University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


36TH  CONGRESS,  )    HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES.    J  Ex.    Doc. 
1st  Session.      S  )    No.  69. 


INDIAN  HOSTILITIES  IN  NEW  MEXICO. 


MESSAGE 

OF  THE 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES, 

TRANSMITTING, 

In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  ihe  House,  information  concerning 
Indian  hostilities  in  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico. 


APRIL  16,  1860. — Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


WASHINGTON,  April  12,  1860. 
To  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  : 

I  transmit,  herewith,  a  report  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  with  its  ac- 
companiments, communicating  the  information  called  for  by  the  reso- 
lution of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  20th  ultimo,  respecting 
Indian  hostilities  in  .New  Mexico. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT,  April  12,  1860. 

SIR  :  In  compliance  with  the  resolution  in  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives of  the  20th  ultimo,  hy  which  "  the  President  of  the  United  I 
States  is  requested  to  communicate  to  th  e  House  any  information  he 
may  have  concerning  Indian  hostilities  in  the  Territory  of  New  Mexi- 
co/' I  have  the  honor  to  transmit,  herewith,  copies  of  the  papers 
named  in  the  accompanying  list,  containing  all  the  information,  in 
possession  of  this  department,  embraced  in  the  terms  of  the  resolution; 
which  is  herewith  returned. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 
To  the  PRESIDENT.  Secretary  of  War. 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IX   NEW   MEXICO. 

List  of  papers  accompanying  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  April 
12,  1860,  relating  to  Indian  hostilities  in  Neiv  Mexico. 

1.  Colonel  Bonneville  to  General  Scott,  September  25,  1859. 

a.  To  Captain  Granger,  July  5. 

b.  To  Major  Simonson,  August  7. 

c.  To  same,  August  12. 

d.  To  same,  same  date. 

e.  To  same,  August  14 
/.  To  same,  September  7. 

2.  Same  to  same,  October  31,  1859. 

a.  From  Major  Shepherd,  October  14. 

b.  From  Major  Buff,  October  24. 

3.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  same,  November  6,  1859. 

a.  From  Major  Buff,  October  26. 

4.  Same  to  same,  November  25,  1859. 

a.   From  Major  Sbepherd,  November  13. 

5.  Same  to  same,  December  3,  1859. 

a.  From  Major  Sbepherd,  November  19. 

b.  From  Lieutenant  Whipple,  November  19. 

6.  Same  to  same,  December  11,  1859. 

a.  From  Captain  Elliot,  October  22. 

b.  From  Colonel  Keeves,  November  27. 

c.  Lieut   Cook  to  Col.  Reeves,  November  27. 

d.  Captain  Elliot  to  same,  November  27. 

e.  Lieutenant  Lord  to  same,  November  27. 

/.  Lieutenant  McNeill  to  same,  November  27. 

7.  Same  to  same,  December  12, 1859. 

a.  From  Major  Simonson,  December  9. 

8.  Same  to  same,  January  8,  1860. 

a.  Lieut.  McNeill  to  Captain  Elliot,  December  7,  1859. 

9.  The  Adjutant  General  to  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  January  10,  1860. 

10.  Col.  Fauntleroy  to  Gen.  Scott,  January  22/1860. 

a.  From  Captain  McLane,  January  6. 

11.  Same  to  same,  January  29,  1860. 

a.  From  Major  Shepherd,  January  17. 

b.  To  same,  January  27. 

12.  Same  to  same,  February  10,  1860. 

a.  From  Colonel  Reeves,  January  3. 

13.  Same  to  same,  February  19,  1860. 

a.  From  Captain  Hatch,  Feb.  7. 

b.  From  Colonel  Porter,  Feb.  11. 

c.  General  orders,  Feb.  18. 

14.  The  Ajutant  General  to  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  Feb.  25,  1860. 

15.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott,  March  4,  1860. 

a.  From  Lieutenant  Dickinson,  Jan.  25. 

b.  From  Major  Shepherd,  Feb.  14. 

c.  Orders,  February  12. 

16.  Gen.  Scott  to  Col.  Fauntleroy,  March  29, 1860. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW   MEXICO.  8 

T/tefolloiving  papers  ivere  furnished  by  the  Department  of  the  Interior. 

17.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood,  October  16,  1859. 

18.  Same  to  same,  Nov.  27,  1859. 

a.  Mr.  Kendrick  to  Major  Shepherd,  October  25. 

19.  Same  to  same,  Dec.  5,  1859. 

a.  Proceedings  of  meeting  at  Las  Vegas. 

20.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson,  Dec.  24,  1859. 

21.  Same  to  same,  Dec.  30.  1859. 

22.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood,  Jan.  7.  1860. 

a.  To  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  Dec.  4,  1859. 

23.  Same  to  same,  Jan.  29, 1860. 

24.  Same  to  same,  Feb.  4,  1860. 

a.  Resolutions  of  the  Legislature  of  New  Mexico. 

b.  To  Governor  Rencher,  Jan.  21. 

25.  Same  to  same^eb.  5,  1860. 

a.  From  Mr.  Kendrick,  Jan.  20. 

b.  From  same,  Jan.  23. 

26.  Same  to  same,  Feb   10,  1860. 
27    Same  to  same,  Feb.  12,  1860. 

28.  Same  to  same,  Feb.  19,  1860. 

29.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson,  March  2,  1860. 

30.  Same  to  same,  March  23,  1860. 

31.  Same  to  Mr.  Collins,  March  26,  1860. 


1.  Colonel  Bonnerville  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPT.  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M.  Sept'r.  25,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General-ia-chief,  copies  of  instructions  sent  from  these 
headquarters. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

B.  L.  E.  BONNEVILLE, 
Colonel  3d  Infantry,  Comg.  Dept. 

Lieut.  Col.  L   THOMAS.  A.  A.G., 

Headquarters  of  the  army,  Neiv  York  City. 


I  a. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  July  5,  1859. 

CAPTAIN  :  Captain  Claiborne  having  reported  the  Indians  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Canadian  to  be  hostile,  I  send  you  the  enclosed  order. 

The  department  commander  directs  that  the  command  travel  as 
light  as  possible,  and  be  furnished  with  provisions  and  transportation 
sufficient  to  reach  Albuquerque,  where  directions  have  been  given  to 


4  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

re-supply  it.  The  transportation,  taken  from  your  post  or  hired,  will 
be  returned  from  Albuquerque.  Sufficient  provisions  will  be  taken 
from  Albuquerque  to  reach  Hatch's  ranch,  where  a  depot  is  already 
established.  As  the  command  may  have  to  operate  from  Hatch's 
ranche,  they  will  take  along  a  sufficient  supply  of  pack  saddles. 

The  department  commander  leaves  it  to  your  option  to  go  on  the 
expedition  as  the  officer  designated  or  to  send  an  officer. 

This  order  is  not  to  interfere  with  the  detail  of  Captain  Hatch  and 
the  men  already  ordered  with  him  from  your  post. 

You  will  notify  these  headquarters  by  express  of  the  departure  of 
the  command  designated  in  the  enclosed  order. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  K.  WILKINS. 
First  Lieut.  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Brt.  Capt.  JORDON  GRANGER, 

First  Lieut.  R.  M.  R.,  Comdg.  Fort  Crai&N.  M. 


1  b. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  August  7,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  Your  communication  of  July  IT  has  been  submitted  to  the 
department  commander,  who  directs  me  to  state  in  reply  that  Mr. 
Kendrick,  the  newly  appointed  agent  for  the  Navajoes,  has  arrived 
here  and  will  shortly  leave  for  Fort  Defiance  ;  he  will  carry  out  fur- 
ther instructions  from  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 

Instructions  will  be  sent  you  at  the  same  time. 

As  there  is  a  possibility  that  war  may  ensue,  you  cannot  be  too 
diligent  in  obtaining  every  information  in  regard  to  the  country.  It 
would  also  be  advisable  to  keep  your  command  fully  prepared  to  strike 
a  decisive  blow  at  any  moment. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
First  Lieut.  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

To  Major  J.  S.  SIMONSON, 

R.  M.  R.,  Comdg.  Fort  Defiance,  N.  M. 


1  c. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  August  12,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  The  department  commander  directs  me  to  inform  you  that 
the  new  agent  for  the  Navajoes,  Mr.  Kendrick,  carries  out  further  in- 
structions from  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  in  regard  to  those 
Indians.  Upon  his  application  you  will  take  possession  of  any  In- 
dians or  flocks  he  may  designate,  and  hold  them  subject  to  his  orders. 
Should  he  require  you  to  punish  any  one  party  of  the  Indians,  you 
will  do  so ;  but  this  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  declaration  of  war 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXECO.  5 

against  the  whole  nation,  the  department  commander  reserving  to 
himself  the  right  to  declare  a  general  war  against  the  Navajoes  after 
consultation  with  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 

Should  you,  however,  observe  a  general  uprising  among  the  Indians, 
you  will  immediately  commence  hostilities.  Under  such  circumstances 
you  cannot  act  too  promptly. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS. 
First  Lieut.  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 
Major  J.  S.  SIMONSON, 

JR.  M.  R.,  Comdg.  Fort  Defiance,  N.  M. 


I  d. 

^ 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  August  12,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  The  department  commander  directs  me  to  say  to  you  that 
when  your  command  was  ordered  to  the  Navajoe  country,  it  was  ex- 
pected they  would  return  about  the  15th  of  September.  Under  pres- 
ent circumstances  that  will  not  be  possible,  unless  the  present  diffi- 
culties terminate,  of  which  you  will  advise  these  headquarters  and 
await  instructions. 

By  this  time  your  exploring  parties  have,  no  doubt,  informed  you  of 
the  nature  of  the  country,  and  the  places  where  the  Indians  cultivate, 
graze  their  animals,  &c.  ;  and  you  must  have  formed  some  idea  how 
the  war,  if  it  become  a  matter  of  necessity,  can  be  carried  on  most 
successfully.  From  what  the  department  commander  saw  last  winter, 
he  thinks  Fort  Defiance  too  far  in  the  region  of  snow  to  be  available 
as  a  depot  for  the  troops  to  act  from  in  the  winter,  for  the  Indians 
even  declined  attending  the  council  on  account  of  the  depth  of  the 
snow.  His  idea  is  that  Zuni  on  the  south  and  Tunichey  on  the  north 
would  be  nearer  the  wintering  ground  of  the  Indians,  where  the  troops 
would  have  to  go  in  search  of  them  and  their  herds  and  their  flocks, 
and  that  Fort  Defiance  could  be  left  with  merely  a  garrison  sufficient 
to  defend  it. 

He  requests  your  views  on  the  subject. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
First  Lieut.  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 


I  e. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  August  14,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  Your  report  and  enclosures  of  August  3  were  duly  received 
and  submitted  to  the  department  commander,  who  directs  me  to  state 
that  he  is  glad  the  Indians  are  desirous  of  complying  with  the  agree- 


6  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES    IN    NEW    MEXICO. 

rnents  made  with  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  last  December ; 
the  report  will  he  forwarded  for  the  information  of  the  General-in- 
chief. 

With  regard  to  withdrawing  the  troops,  he  is  of  the  opinion  that 
now  is  the  time  to  make  a  final  adjustment  of  the  Navajoe  difficulties. 
As  long  as  the  Indian  department  are  in  negotiation  on  the  suhject  of 
peace  or  war,  he  cannot  see  how  he  can  well  withdraw  the  troops  ; 
that  in  the  meantime  it  is  desirable  you  continue  explorations.  The 
Navajoes  have  been  represented  as  the  owners  of  large  herds  of  horses 
and  sheep,  and  it  is  probable  with  their  desire  for  concealment  you 
may  not  have  seen  all.  It  is  necessary  that  this  should  be  known  to 
a  certainty,  as  a  basis  for  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  and 
himself  to  act  on. 

Last  winter  it  was  frequently  reported  that  the  Navajoes  had  driven 
large  numbers  of  their  animals  sixty  miles  south  of  Zuni,  also  to  the 
waters  of  the  Chiquito  Colorado,  and  on  the  northern  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Blanco ;  others  represented  that  they  were  hid  to  the  north 
and  northwest  of  Mogin,  and  that  Cayatano's  band  took  refuge  to  the 
north  of  the  San  Juan. 

From  your  representations  of  the  late  rains  and  the  coming  up  of 
the  grass,  this  is  probably  the  time  when  examinations  of  these  por- 
tions can  be  most  readily  made.  It  is  well  understood  that  grass  is 
deficient  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Defiance  on  account  of  its  ele- 
vation. Last  winter  it  was  covered  with  deep  snow,  whilst  in  the 
distant  valleys  and  plains  there  was  no  snow  and  an  abundance  of 
grass,  and  there  it  was  where  the  Indians  were  supposed  to  have  win- 
tered their  stock.  He  suggests  that  in  case  you  should  find  it  impos- 
sible to  carry  sufficient  provisions  on  your  pack  mules  to  explore  these 
distant  places,  why  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  load  all  your  wagons, 
mules,  and  horses,  if  necessary,  and  establish  a  depot  on  the  Mogins, 
on  the  Chiquito  Colorado,  or  at  Zuni,  and  from  either  as  a  centre  con- 
tinue your  explorations? 

Should  it  be  necessary  to  hire  Moqui,  Zuni,  or  other  Indians  as 
guides  for  this  purpose,  you  are  authorized  to  do  so. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
First  Lieut.  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Major  J.  S.  SIMONSON, 

E.  M.  R.,  Comdg.  Fort  Defiance,  N.  M. 


HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  September  7,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  The  department  commander  directs  me  to  inform  you  that 
a  report  has  reached  him  that  Guerro,  having  some  papers  supposed 
to  be  for  these  headquarters,  was  set  upon  by  a  party  of  Indians,  at 
present  unknown,  and  has  not  since  been  heard  of. 

He  also  directs  me  to  say  that  the  report  of  Captain  Schroeder, 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  7 

third  infantry,  does  not  meet  his  approval  in  this  much,  that  he  ap- 
pears to  regard  the  object  of  his  scout  as  a  trivial  matter,  whereas  the 
department  commander  thinks  a  great  deal  of  importance  would  have 
attended  its  success.  In  addition  to  this,  forwarded  as  it  has  heen  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  army,  it  may  be  looked  upon  in  a  different 
light  from  what  he  (Capt.  S.)  supposes,  and  reflect  upon  others. 

I  am  directed  also  to  say  that  you  mention  "  there  are  some  ten  or 
twelve  men  in  the  nation  who  do  all  the  stealing."  If  you  can  catch 
some  of  them,  and  hang  two  or  three,  it  will  have  a  salutary  effect  on 
the  whole  tribe. 

The  department  commander  desires  you  to  write  by  every  mail  and 
keep  him  informed  of  the  state  of  affairs. 

I  am.  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
First  Lieut.  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Major  J.  S.  SLMONSON, 

E.  M:  R  ,  Comdg.  Fort  Defiance,  N.  Jf. 


2.   Colonel  Bonneville  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  October  31,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  In  continuation  of  my  former  communications  on  the  state 
of  the  Navajoe  affairs,  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  for  the  information 
of  the  Lieutenant  General-in-chief  the  following  papers  : 

A.  Copy  of  Major  Shepherd's  report. 

B.  Copy  of  my  instructions  to  Major  Ruff. 

In  connexion  with  the  above,  I  would  state  that  the  last  year's  re- 
quisition for  clothing  has  not  yet  arrived  in  the  department. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

B   L.  E.  BONNEVILLE, 
Col.  Third  Infantry,  Comdg.  Department. 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 

A.  A.  G.,  Headquarters  of  Army,  Neiv  York  City* 


2  a. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  DEFIANCE,  NEW  MEXICO, 

October  14,  1859. 

SIR  :  Your  letter  of  the  2d  instant  directing  me  to  commence  hostile 
operations  against  the  Navajoes  has  been  received.  The  same  mail 
brought  department  orders,  No.  123,  of  the  same  date,  relieving  Major 
Simonton  from  command  here  and  directing  Major  Ruff  to  proceed 
hither  and  assume  command,  but  no  order  placed  me  in  command  of 
the  troops  in  this  region.  By  law  and  the  regulations  I  am  only  the 
commander  of  this  post  until  Major  Ruff  shall  arrive.  Your  letter  of  the 
2d  instant  only  authorizes  my  command  over  the  troops  in  the  Nava- 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

joe  country  for  one  specified  object,  and  this  letter  is  not  even  address- 
ed to  me  as  the  commander  of  this  station.  I  have  nevertheless 
made  an  inspection  of  the  animals  of  this  command  with  a  view  to 
their  condition  for  offensive  operations.  I  have  also  considered  very 
carefully  that  portion  of  your  letter  which  declares  the  meditated  at- 
tack as  not  designed  as  a  "general  war  against  the  nation,"  and  I 
have  therefore  respectfully  to  report  the  following  : 

The  animals  are  not  in  a  (sufficiently  good  condition  to  continue 
hostile  operations.  An  attack  could  be  made,  but  there  it  would  end ; 
because  the  service  which  should  be  exacted  to  make  a  telling  blow 
would  exhaust  both  horses  and  mules.  The  grass  is  getting  poor  and 
the  weather  so  cold  as  to  form  ice  every  night.  What  would  be  re- 
quired of  the  animals  in  a  hostile  campaign  is  widely  diiferent  from 
their  services  during  the  exploration  of  past  summer.  The  men  also 
of  the  force  outside  the  garrison  have  not  clothing  for  enduring  the 
cold  nights  on  a  campaign  when  fires  are  not  permitted  to  be  lit.  And 
with  respect  to  the  contemplated  blow  not  being  a  "general  war 
against  the  nation,"  I  have  to  report  that  no  one  who  has  ever  been 
long  enough  here  to  know  the  character  of  the  Navajoes  can  possibly 
doubt  that  it  will  have  that  result.  The  murderers  and  robbers  re- 
ferred to  in  your  letter  may  or  may  not  reside  in  Tuniche  valley  or  its 
vicinity,  although  they  may  have  first  gone  there.  One  of  them  is 
quite  positively  known  to  live  in  Chelle  ;  and  besides  the  people  of 
Tuniche  of  to-day  are  not  the  same  as  of  yesterday.  At  all  events,  it 
is  well  known  that  they  are  so  closely  allied  to  those  this  side  of  the 
mountain  that  it  is  impossible  to  make  a  strike  upon  them  without  its 
being  regarded  as  a  war  upon  all,  and  materially  different  from  a  con- 
flict and  chastisement  following  an  immediate  and  successful  pursuit 
of  a  foraging  band. 

Executing  a  campaign  now  would  doubtless  fall  the  most  heavily 
upon  some  of  the  tribe  who  have  spent  the  summer  in  riding  about 
engaged  in  efforts  to  effect  a  fulfilment  of  the  last  treaty.  Consider- 
ing, therefore,  a  general  war  as  beyond  all  question  an  inevitable  re- 
sult, it  becomes  my  duty  to  apprise  the  department  commander  of  it, 
and  besides  to  offer  some  considerations  which  a  presence  here  would 
force  upon  his  mind.  The  blow  which  is  directed  in  your  letter,  if  ex- 
ecuted now,  will  result  in  the  expenditure  of  a  million  of  dollars,  or 
thereabouts  ;  because  after  the  blow  is  struck  the  offensive  cannot  be 
resumed  by  the  troops  ;  and  consequently  three  thousand  Navajoe  in- 
dian  warriors  will  have  it  all  their  own  way  next  spring,  when  a  full 
preparation  to  combat  them  may  be  completed.  This  certain  success 
over  us  which  the  climate  and  the  strength  and  condition  of  these  In- 
dians will  secure  for  a  period  of  six  months,  comprising  the  winter, 
and  the  always  backward  spring  in  this  high  altitude,  will  prolong 
a  contest  which  should  begin  and  terminate  successfully  in  the  other 
six  months,  that  is  to  say,  the  warm  months. 

These  views  are  in  my  mind  quite  sufficient  to  justify  a  pause  be- 
fore committing  an  act  which  will  eventuate  in  such  serious  and  mo- 
mentous consequences  ;  and  I  cannot  deny  myself  the  hope  that  the 
department  commander  will  approve  of  delay — a  delay  from  which  no 
harm  can  ensue,  as  the  Indians  can  be  attacked  hereafter  as  well  as 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW   MEXICO.  9 

now,  with  this  important  difference,  that  an  attack  now  will  expose 
our  weakness  in  not  being  prepared  for  a  successful  conflict,  and 
thereby  tend  to  confirm  them  in  their  conviction  that  they  are  the 
stronger  party.  Were  not  in  fact  some  of  these  causes  urged  for  a  de- 
lay the  main  reasons  for  the  armistice  last  November  and  December, 
which  terminated  in  the  treaty  signed  December  25, 1858?  It  can  hardly 
be  deemed  amiss  in  me  to  suggest  a  continuance  through  the  coming 
winter  and  spring  of  the  conciliatory  and  temporizing  policy  adopted 
by  the  Indian  Agent  here  for  the  past  few  months,  reserving  hostili- 
ties for  next  summer,  when  everything  can  be  fully  prepared.  By 
staying  the  hand  now,  the  Indians  cannot  possibly  do  more  than  dur- 
ing open  warfare, when  it  will  be  impossible  to  resist  them  successfully 
until  next  summer.  The  main  probability  of  the  former  case  is,  that 
their  forays  will  extend  only  to  the  means  of  subsistence. 

In  all  the  foregoing  I  do  not  consider  solely  the  evils  to  the  govern- 
ment, on  the  contrary  the  evils  will  fall  heavily  upon  the  settlements 
near  the  Kio  Grande  ;  and  here  I  may  with  propriety  add,  that  I  am 
not  unaware  that  the  mouthing  politician  and  the  land  warrant  spec- 
ulators, in  office  as  well  as  those  out,  crave  the  very  state  of  things  of 
which  I  suggest  an  avoidance.  Besides,  it  must  be  well  known  that 
there  are  in  every  town  of  this  Territory  great  numbers  of  idle  and 
vicious  men,  who  desire  enrolment  as  volunteers  for  the  especial  grati- 
fication of  the  same  propensities  as  those  of  the  Indians;  not  so  much  in 
a  spirit  of  retaliation  as  of  an  instinct  engendered  by  their  idleness  and 
irreflective  character — never  looking  to  the  future  consequences  during 
the  winter  season  when  they  have  no  occupation.  Your  letter  of  the 
5th  inst.,  addressed  to  Major  Simonson,  reached  here  day  before  yester- 
day. Major  Simonson  had  previously  left  the  post  for  Albuquerque. 
Some  remarks  were  anticipated  upon  the  papers  sent  you  by  Major 
Simonson,  the  receipt  of  which  you  acknowledge.  These  papers  men- 
tioned that  the  Indian  Agent,  Mr.  Hendrick,  had  held  another  coun- 
cil, and  had  granted  the  Navajoe's  further  time  for  a  settlement,  &c. 
Your  silence  in  regard  to  them,  and  also  in  regard  to  your  pre- 
vious orders  to  me  to  begin  hostilities,  is  surprising,  and  leaves  me 
in  doubt ;  and  your  official  announcement  that  Colonel  Fauntleroy  is 
ordered  to  command  the  military  department  does  not  relieve  me  from 
the  difficulties  which  I  find  before  me. 

I  shall  await  an  answer,  or  further  orders,  before  proceeding  to  ex- 
tremities. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 
Captain  Third  Infantry  and  Brevet  Major  commanding  post. 

Lieut.  J.  D.  WILKINS, 

Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  £.,  U.  S.  A.,  Department  of  N.  M. 


10  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   INT   NEW   MEXICO. 


2  b. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  fe,  October  24,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  The  department  commander  directs  me  to  inform  you  that 
he  has  already  advised  the  commanding  officer  of  the  troops  in  the 
Navajoe  country  of  murders  and  depredations  committed  in  the 
vicinity  of  Atrisca,  and  of  the  pursuit  of  the  perpetrators  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Tuniche.  This  murder  and  depredation  was  also  acknowl- 
edged by  the  Navajoes  in  the  council  held  September  25th,  as  will  he 
seen  by  Major  Simonson's  report  of  September  28th.  The  department 
commander  hoped  that  the  Indians  would  have  been  overtaken  and 
punished  by  Captain  Shroeder;  in  order  to  secure  their  punishment 
he  further  directed  in  case  Captain  Shroeder  returned  unsuccessful, 
that  the  whole  of  the  available  command  should  move  to  that  part  of 
the  country,  so  that  punishment  might  follow  close  upon  the  offence. 

Your  attention  is  called  to  his  instructions  of  the  2d  instant,  com- 
municated to  Major  Shepherd  by  Major  Simonson  ;  also  to  his  former 
instructions.  He  desires  they  should  be  carrried  out. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
First  Lieutenant  Third  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

To  Major  C.  F.  RUFF,  R   M.  R., 

Commanding  Fort  Defiance,  N.  M. 


3.   Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  November  G,  1859. 

COLONEL:  I  have  the  honor  to  state,  for  the  information  of  the  Lieu- 
tenant General-in-chief,  that,  on  my  arrival  in  this  department,  I 
found  that  the  Navajoes,  (Indians,)  having  been  charged  with  the 
murder  of  several  Mexicans  and  the  commission  of  depredations  upon 
the  stock  of  the  citizens  of  the  Territory,  a  force,  composed  of  the  troops 
at  Fort  Defiance,  and  various  detachments  from  different  posts  of 'the 
department,  had  been  sent  out  to  their  country  with  the  view  of  over- 
awing the  Indians,  and  enforcing  a  compliance  with  certain  treaty 
stipulations*  made  by  them  with  the  government.  Actual  hostilities 
had  not  been  commenced.  In  this  state  of  affairs,  the  enclosed  copy, 
received  at  these  headquarters,  and  marked  A,  will  show  the  present  con- 
dition of  things  in  the  Navajoe  country,  as  reported  by  Major  Ruff, 
regiment  mounted  riflemen,  the  officer  in  command  of  the  troops  in- 
tended for  the  field,  and  which  report,  together  with  a  communication 
from  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  in  New  Mexico,  and  the 
known  impossibility  of  procuring  and  furnishing  supplies  necessary 
to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  campaign,  induced  the  withdrawal 
of  the  force  for  the  present  from  that  country,  excepting  the  regular 
•garrison  at  Fort  Defiance. 

I  have  been  the  more  induced  to  this  course  of  withdrawing  the 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES    IV    NEW    MEXICO.  11 

troops,  because  it  affords  an  opportunity  to  submit  several  matters 
touching  the  subject  of  war  against  the  Indians  on  the  borders  of 
this  department,  to  the  Lieutenant  General-in-chief,  and  to  receive  such 
instructions  from  the  proper  authority  as  will  enable  me  to  determine 
in  future  the  ground  upon  which  the  commanding  officer  of  this  de- 
partment may,  with  propriety,  make  war  or  withold  the  interference 
of  troops  in  the  settlement  of  Indian  difficulties. 

The  greatest  embarrassment  arises  from  the  fact  that  many  of  the 
claims  set  up  against  the  Indians  for  plundering  and  stealing  stock, 
&c.,  are  either  wholly  fabricated  or  to  a  considerable  degree  exagger- 
ated, and  if  war  is  to  be  commenced  upon  the  simple  presentation  of 
these  claims,  the  cause  for  war  becomes  interminable,  or  the  Indians 
must  be  extirpated.  The  general  notions  which  the  commanding 
officer  of  this  department  entertains  on  this  point  are,  that  the  troops 
should  be  employed  in  the  defence  of  the  Territory,  giving  immediate 
protection  to  life  and  property  within  the  same,  and  carrying  war  into 
the  enemy's  country,  only  in  instant  pursuit  for  depredations  com- 
mitted, or  making  invasions  in  case  of  murder,  when  of  a  character, 
and  under  circumstances  which  evince  a  general  hostile  feeling,  or  for 
the  enforcement  of  the  delivery  of  offenders  in  case  of  these  murders. 
In  other  words,  I  mean  to  draw  a  distinction,  as  cause  of  war,  between 
claims  for  thefts,  &c.,  which  have  been  allowed  to  accumulate  and 
not  redressed  at  the  time,  and  those  which  may  be  followed  up  by 
continuous  pursuit,  or  take  place  under  the  eye  of  troops.  Deliberate 
and  unprovoked  murders  are  always  legitimate  cause  of  war,  if  not 
redressed. 

In  the  case  of  the  Navajoes,  many  claims  against  them  now  are 
the  accumulated  losses  for  years,  and  are  almost  all  under  some  cloud 
as  to  the  just  extent  to  which  they  have  really  existed.  Should  not 
these,  then,  be  wholly  repudiated  by  the  military  authority,  or  submit- 
ted by  some  process  provided  by  the  government  for  their  re-examin- 
ation or  sealing.  These  claims  otherwise  may  be  augmented  indefi- 
nitely in  number  and  amount,  and  soon  raised  to  a  degree  beyond  the 
possibility  of  the  Indians  to  redeem.  If,  then,  you  are  to  make  war 
for  these,  the  opportunity  to  endless  frauds  is  opened,  or  the  Indians 
divested  at  least  of  their  property,  and  instead  of  one  or  two,  or  a  few 
robbers  on  our  borders,  they  are  made  a  nation  of  robbers.  The 
present  condition  of  the  command  in  the  Navajoe  country  is  such  as 
to  require  it  to  be  withdrawn  until  spring.  I  shall  then  demand  the 
offenders  in  all  cases  of  murders,  and  I  promise  to  exterminate  the 
Indians,  unless  they  deliver  them  up  ;  but  I  desire  most  especially  to 
be  instructed  as  to  how  far  I  must  proceed  to  enforce  claims  for  money, 
or  other  compensation  for  depredations  upon  property. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

TI10S.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

Col.  1st  dragoons,  Com.  Dept. 

Lieut.  Col.  L   THOMAS, 

A.  A.  Gen.,  Headquarters  Army,  N.  T.  City. 


12  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 


a. 


HEADQUARTERS, 
Fort  Defiance,  N.  J/.,  October  26,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  arrived  at  this  post  on  yes- 
terday, and  in  compliance  with  department's  special  order  No.  123, 
have  this  day  assumed  the  command  of  the  troops  in  the  Navajoe 
country,  and  of  this  post. 

From  the  examination  and  inspection  I  have  so  far  heen  enabled  to 
make,  I  find  a  very  great  deficiency  of  clothing  and  commissary  sup- 
plies for  the  men,  and  of  forage  for  animals. 

All  the  companies  and  detachments  not  forming  the  regular  garri- 
son of  the  post,  are  entirely  destitute  of  shoes  and  socks  ;  no  jackets  ; 
blouses  and  trowsers  nearly  worn  out;  "  requisitions  for  stockings  " 
were  made  by  Captain  Walker,  E.  M.  K.,  two  months  since,  as  he 
reports  to  me.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  state  that,  in  this  rigorous 
climate,  and  amid  the  deep  snows  of  the  rapidly  advancing  winter, 
any  movement  of  men  bare-footed  and  otherwise  insufficiently  clothed, 
will  be  impossible.  The  supply  of  the  four  companies  composing  the 
regular  garrison,  is  already  nearly  exhausted,  and  will  be  entirely 
exhausted  by  the  month  of  December.  There  exists,  also,  a  great 
scarcity  of  ammunition  for  the  troops  temporarily  at  the  post — less 
than  forty  (40)  rounds  per  man. 

Detailed  estimates  will  be  prepared  and  forwarded  as  early  as  pos- 
sible ;  but  two  hundred  pairs  of  boots,  six  hundred  pairs  of  shoes, 
and  fifteen  hundred  pairs  of  socks,  should  be  forwarded  here  im- 
mediately. In  the  subsistence  department  there  is  less  than  two 
months'  supply  of  bacon,  and  but  twenty  (20)  days'  supply  of  flour, 
twenty  (20)  days'  supply  of  coffee,  and  two  months'  supply  of  sugar ; 
fifteen  (15)  days'  supply  of  soap,  and  other  supplies  in  about  the  same 
proportion,  allowing  nothing  for  contingent  loss  or  damage.  The 
supply  of  corn  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  (132)  head  of  beef 
cattle  is  but  (5,000)  five  thousand  pounds. 

In  the  quartermaster's  supplies  there  is  corn  but  for  eleven  (11) 
days,  two  hundred  and  forty-three  (243)  horse  shoes,  and  six  hundred 
and  twenty-five  (625)  mule  shoes,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  (170) 
pounds  of  shoe  nails  of  all  kinds. 

Such  is  the  result  of  the  examination  made  by  me  to-day.  Estimates 
and  requisitions  in  form,  not  already  forwarded,  will  be  transmitted 
as  soon  as  practicable ;  and  I  close  this  hasty  communication  with  the 
urgent  request  that  shoes  and  stockings,  and  flour  for  the  men,  and 
corn  for  the  animals,  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  practicable. 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

C.  F.  RUFF, 
Major  E.  M.  R.  Commanding. 

1st  Lieut.  JNO.  D.  WILKINS,  3d  Infantry. 
A.  A.  A.  Gen.  Dep.  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 

NOTE.  I  desire  to  add  to  the  above,  that  there  is  no  guide  at  the 
post,  and  that  none  can  be  procured  in  this  vicinity,  and  have  to 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  13 

request  that  at  least  two  good  guides  be  sent  here,  if  any  operations 
against  these  Indians  are  to  be  carried  on. 

0.  F.  RUFF,  Major. 


4.   Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  November  25,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General-in-chief,  a  copy  of  a  report  of  Brevet  Major  and 
Captain  0.  L.  Shepherd,  3d  infantry.  This  expedition  had  left  before 
the  order  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  from  the  Navajoe  country 
was  received  at  Fort  Defiance. 

The  troops  in  the  Navajoe  country,  with  the  exception  of  the  regular 
garrison  at  Fort  Defiance,  have  been  withdrawn,  and  are  now  en  route 
to  their  proper  stations. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

TH.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

Col.  1st  Dragoons,  Com.  Dept. 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 

A.  A.  A.  Gen.  Headquarters  Army ,  N,  Y.  City. 


4  a. 

FORT  DEFIANCE,  NEW  MEXICO, 

'November  13,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  respectfully  to  report  that,  in  obedience  to 
post  orders  No  89  of  the  30th  ultimo,  I  marched  on  the  1st  instant 
with  the  following  command,  composed  of  companies  "B,"  UC,"  and 
"G,"  3d  infantry,  213  men,  officered  by  Captain  Johns,  and  Lieuts. 
Walker,  Hildt,  and  Dickinson,  and  60  men  of  the  regiment  of  mount- 
ed riflemen,  officered  by  Lieuts.  Du  Bois  and  Claflin,  attended  by  act- 
ing assistant  surgeon  Alden  in  campaign  against  the  Tuniche  Nava 
joes.  On  the  third  day  out,  we  descended  into  the  valley  of  the  Tun- 
iche and  found  it  apparently  deserted.  The  fourth  day  a  few  Indians 
hovered  around  us,  making  signals,  and  watching  our  movements, 
thereby  showing  that  they  had  been  by  some  means  apprised  of  our 
designs.  The  fifth  day  Lieut.  Walker,  with  a  detached  party  of  ten 
infantry,  succeeded  in  wounding  badly  one  Indian,  who  escaped  by 
falling  down  a  precipice  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  height,  and  afterwards 
creeping  out  of  sight.  As  this  precipice  could  not  be  descended  by 
the  party,  the  wounded  Indian  escaped  through  the  assistance  of  his 
companions  after  Lieut.  Walker  had  left  that  part  of  the  mountain  ; 
and  as  was  afterwards  verified  by  the  examination  of  another  party. 

On  the  morning  of  the  sixth  day  after  the  command  had  begun  its 
march,  Lieut.  Hildt,  with  a  detached  party  of  twelve  footmen,  in- 
fantry and  riflemen,  succeeded  in  killing  one  Indian  and  wounding 


14  INDIAN    HOSTILITIES    IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

another,  who  escaped  by  clinging  with  both  arms  to  his  horse's  neck, 
although  wounded  in  several  places. 

Lieut  Clafliu,  with  ten  mounted  men,  was  detached  in  pursuit,  but, 
having  two  miles  the  start,  the  other  Indians  succeeded  in  carrying 
away  the  wounded  one.  On  returning  to  the  line  of  march,  the  rifle- 
men were  fired  upon  once  by  the  Indians  from  a  high  hill,  but  with- 
out effect.  The  remainder  of  this  day,  and  the  seventh  and  eigth, 
were  spent  in  going  to  the  Ojos  Calientes,  to  the  junction  of  the  Ar- 
roya  of  Tuniche  and  the  Eio  Chaco,  and  in  returning  to  and  ascending 
to  the  top  of  of  the  mountains,  rising  five  thousand  feet  above  the  val- 
ley. On  our  route  up,  we  examined  a  -deserted  village. 

On  the  ninth  day  we  travelled  eastward  along  the  crest  of  the 
mountains,  observing  at  different  points  its  northern  side.  At  the 
end  of  about  ten  miles  we  finally  discovered  two  small  flocks  of  sheep 
halfway  down  the  side  of  the  mountain.  Knowing  that  there  were 
Indians  in  their  vicinity,  the  command  was  here  divided,  one  half  un- 
der Captain  Johns  went  to  the  northwest  to  make  an  attack  from  that 
side,  while  the  other  half  should  attack  from  the  opposite  direction. 
Two  deserted  rancherias  were  thus  discovered,  but  during  the  attack 
only  about  ten  or  twelve  Indian  men  were  seen,  and  two  old  Indian 
women.  The  two  old  women  were  captured  but  afterwards  released. 
Of  the  men  one  was  killed  and  one  wounded  by  a  small  detached  party 
of  infantry  under  Captain  Edgar.  The  same  party  captured  one  of 
the  flocks,  about  200  in  number.  The  riflemen  shot  one  Indian  from 
his  horse,  and  while  endeavoring  to  make  his  escape  among  the  deep 
and  precipitous  ravines^  shot  him  twice  again,  and  while  iii  the  act  of 
going  up  to  him  as  he  was  crawling  on  his  hands  and  knees  over  the 
crest  of  a  ravine,  the  rally  was  sounded,  and  they  therefore  left  him, 
He  probably  died  immediately.  They  also  succeeded  in  wounding 
two  others,  and  in  capturing  about  80  sheep,  being  a  portion  of  one 
of  the  flocks.  One  Indian  pony,  and  a  mare  and  colt  were  captured 
and  brought  to  this  post  by  the  command.  Nothing  of  importance 
was  found  in  the  two  small  rancherias,  only  a  few  sheep  skins,  and 
three  or  four  buffalo  robes,  some  wearing  materials,  a  spade,  hatchet, 
and  brass  kettle,  and  some  grass  seed  for  eating ;  also  40  or  50  small 
kids,  all  going  to  show  that  they  had  nothing  to  live  on  except  the 
milk  of  the  goats  and  the  meat  of  the  sheep  ;  one  of  the  old  women, 
whom  we  detained  for  one  night,  said  the  same  thing.  The  tenth 
day  was  occupied  in  skirting  for  about  eight  miles  further  along  the 
mountain  side,  without  finding  any  more  Indians. 

The  captured  flock  of  sheep  and  goats  was  abandoned  at  this  day's 
encampment.  The  flock  toot  immediately  the  back  trail- to  the  Kan- 
chcria.  Owing  to  our  provisions  being  nearly  out  and  the  exhausted 
state  of  the  command,  we  occupied  the  eleventh  day  in  crossing  over 
to  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  and  the  twelfth  day  in  marching  to 
this  post.  The  whole  distance  marched  over  was  about  180  miles. 
The  weather  was  mostly  clear,  but  cold  and  windy.  The  whole  cam- 
paign was  of  the  most  arduous- description,  and  the  men  suffered  much 
from  cold,  particularly  the  outlying  pickets. 

Two  Indians  were  killed  and  left  on  the  ground,  and  six  were  badly 
wounded,  three  of  whom  so  severely  as  to  produce  death  without  doubt. 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  15 

The  command  had  more  success  than  there  was  reason  to  expect  after 
the  abandonment  of  that  section  of  the  country.  The  great  number  of 
heavy  and  fresh  trails,  showed  that  nearly  all  the  stock  had  been  re- 
cently driven  away  to  the  river  San  Juan,  and  towards  the  mountains 
near  the  Indian  town  of  Jemez,  the  Indans  accompanying  them. 

No  loss  of  life  was  sustained  by  the  command  in  the  campaign.  One 
horse  was  so  injured  by  a  fall  during  the  chase  that  he  had  to  be  shot. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obediedt  servant, 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 

Gapt.  3d  In'y  and  Br't  Moj.  commanding  detachment  in  campaign. 
Major  C.  F.  RUFF, 

R.  M.  Riflemen,  commanding  Fort  Defiance,  New  Mexico. 


5.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  December  3,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General- in-chief,  copy  of  the  report  of  a  scout  recently 
made  by  Lieutenant  William  D.  Whipple,  third  infantry,  also  the 
letter  ot  Major  0.  L.  Shepherd,  commanding  fort  Defiance,  forward- 
ing the  same. 

1  would  also  state  that  the  expedition  against  the  Final  Apaches  in 
tne  vicinity  of  foft  Buchanan,  which  was  organized  prior  to  my  arri- 
val in  the  department,  has  commenced  operations,  but  no  official  in- 
formation has  been  received  from  it. 

lam,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

TH.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
Col.  \st  Dragoons,  commanding  department. 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 

A.  A.  G.  Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New  "York  City. 


5  a. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  DEFIANCE,  NEW  MEXICO, 

November  19,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  enclose  the  report  of  Lieutenant  Whipple,  who 
was  sent  in  campaign  against  Tunicha  Navajoes. 

The  stolen  flock  of  sheep  from  the  post  was  trailed  by  a  party  under 
Corporal  Mutchler,  for  about  twelve  miles  north  in  the  direction  of 
the  Tunicha  mountains,  to  where  the  flock  was  divided  into  three  or 
four  parts  and  driven  thence.  The  party  soon  lost  the  trails 

The  Navajoe  chief  Huero  Miles,  ibllowed  the  said  trail  from  the 
post  for  more  than  an  hour,  and  then  returned  and  reported  that  they 
had  been  driven  off  by  the  Tunicha  Indians,  and  as  he  offered  ti> 
lead  the  troops  he  was  taken  at  his  word.  Lieutenant  Whipple  was 
accordingly  ordered  to  start  at  dark  of  the  same  day,  the  14th  ;  the 
flock  having  been  stolen  and  driven  away  the  previous  night,  and  be- 
fore Major  Ruff  had  relinquished  command  of  the  post  on  the  inoru- 


16  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

ing  of  that  day  at  ten  A.  M.  The  sheep  were  unquestionably  stolen 
in  retaliation  of  the  campaign  which  I  had  just  previously  made.  The 
pieces  of  tent  named  in  the  report,  were  parts  of  the  tent  stolen  out  of 
the  post  garden  while  my  campaign  was  being  made,  first  frightening 
away  the  man  who  slept  in  the  tent,  or  while  he  went  to  the  assist- 
ance of  another  man  who  was  sleeping  in  another  tent,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  first. 

The  whole  campaign  of  Lieutenant  Whipple  was  executed  with 
great  vigor  and  celerity,  and  merits  praise.  It  must  teach  the  Indians 
that  they  can  be  pursued  and  punished.  They  are  the  same  people  all 
along  the  mountains,  who  rode  in  great  numbers  into  Captain  Schroe- 
der's  camp  last  summer  with  their  bows  in  their  hands  and  their  ar- 
rows between  their  teeth,  this  being  their  defiant  language  fora  read- 
iness and  desire  for  conflict,  and  wanted  to  know  of  him  whether  the 
Americans  wished  war. 

I  cannot  say  whether  they  will  attempt  anything  more  about  this 
post — every  precaution  is  taken  to  prevent  their  success — but  "the  set- 
tlements may  look  for  the  worst. 

The  great  mass  of  the  Tunicha  Indians  have  evidently  fled  from 
those  mountains,  and  probably  gone  northward  to  the  valley  of  the 
river  San  Juan,  with  their  flocks,  &c. 

One  good  thing  has  resulted  from  this  last  affair,  which  has  been 
desired  for  a  long  time,  viz  :  Huero's  conduct  forms  the  first  precedent 
of  arraying  himself  virtually  against  the  evil  portion  of  his  people, 
and  may  induce  others  to  follow  his  example.  He  and  his  friends  ex- 
pect to  be  attacked  in  turn  by  the  Tunicha  Indians,  and  I  assure  him 
that  the  good  men  must  be  successful  if  they  unite  and  stand  to  each 
other. 

If  the  Indian  department  manages  the  matter  judiciously,  or  it  be 
left  to  the  military,  a  combination  of  the  good  may  be  effected  against 
the  bad,  and  thus  result  ultimately  in  some  organization  of  these  peo- 
ple. This  condition  has  always  been  considered  hopeless. 

As  to  the  loss  of  private  Rice,  company  E,  third  infantry,  during 
the  campaign.  I  am  informed  by  Lieutenant  Shipley  that  he  was  one 
of  those  half  crazy  men  whose  conduct  could  never  be  foreseen  or  con- 
trolled when  left  to  himself.  He  is  known  to  have  asked  others  to 
branch  out  on  "their  own  hook/'  Every  proper  signal  was  made 
after  the  affair  to  attract  him  to  camp,  but  without  avail. 

Lieutenant  Walker  is  sent  down  to-day  to  escort  the  captured  horses 
as  far  as  Albuquerque.  The  goats  will  follow  in  a  few  days. 

Enclosed  is  the  receipt  of  Mr.  Kendrick,  Indian  Agent,  for  the  cap- 
tured horses  and  goats. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 
Capt.  3d  Infantry  andBv'tMaj.  commanding  post. 

P.  S.  You  are  respectfully  referred  to  my  letter  of  the  15th  inst., 
in  connexion  with  the  foregoing. 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 

Capt.  3d  Infantry  and  Bv't  Moj.  commanding  post . 
LT.  JNO.  D.  WILKINS, 

A.  Ass't  Aft  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  Dep't  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  17 

Receipt  of  Mr.  Kendrick ,  Navojoe  Indian  Agent,  for  horses  and  goats, 
dec.  j  captured  by  Lieutenant   Whipple. 

Received,  fort  Defiance,  New  Mexico,  November  19,  1859,  for  the 
Indian  department,  of  Brevet  Major  0.  L.  Shepherd,  third  infantry, 
commanding  post,  sixty-two  (62)  horses  and  one  (1)  mule  ;  also  one 
hundred  and  twenty  goats.  The  horses  and  mule  appraised  at  $40 
each  ;  the  goafs  appraised  at  $1  25  each. 

SILAS  F.  KENDRICK, 

Indian  Agent. 


5  I. 

FORT  DEFIANCE,  N.  M.,  November  19,  1859. 

SIR  :  In  obedience  to  post  orders  No.  9*7,  dated  Fort  Defiance,  N. 
M.,  November  14,  1859,  I  started  from  this  post  after  dark  on  the 
night  of  the  date  of  the  order,  in  the  direction  of  the  Tunicha  range 
of  mountains  to  overtake  and  punish,  if  possible,  the  Navajoes  who 
stole  the  flock  of  public  sheep  from  this  post  on  the  night  of  the  13th 
instant,  and  which  it  was  ascertained  had  been  driven  in  the  direction 
aforesaid. 

My  command  consisted  of  145  men  of  companies  "B,"  "C,"  "E," 
&  "G,"  3d  infantry,  the  officers  of  which  were  Lieutenants  J.  J. 
Walker  and  A.  N.  Shipley,  3d  infantry,  and  myself.  I  was  also  ac- 
companied by  Mr.  S.  F.  Kendrick,  agent  for  the  Navajoe  Indians, 
El  Huero,  a  chief  of  the  Navajoes,  and  Fernando,  Navajoe,  interpre- 
ter for  the  Indian  department  at  this  post. 

Our  march  the  first  night  was  continued  until  two  o'clock  a.  m., 
when  we  bivouaced  upon  the  mountain,  and  when  near  the  unde- 
fined line  separating  the  Chusca  and  Tunicha  portion  of  the  range.  la 
the  morning,  being  unable  to  discover  any  trace  of  the  lost  sheep,  we 
marched  at  nine  o'clock  a.  m.  in  the  direction  of  the  eastern  entrance 
to  "  Washington  Pass,"  and  encamped  at  night  upon  the  Tunicha 
mountains,  intending,  in  conformity  with  orders,  to  attack  any  Nava- 
joe Indians  found  east  of  that  range. 

The  next  day,  (16th,)  while  marching  near  the  eastern  crest  of  the 
mountain,  Lieutenant  Shipley,  Mr.  Kendrick,  and  myself,  after  a  long 
and  careful  search  of  the  plain  of  Tunicha  and  the  slope  of  the  mountain, 
with  the  aid  of  a  spy  glass,  discerned  a  thread  of  smoke  rising  from 
among  the  pine  trees  about  three  miles  down  the  mountain.  The  lodges 
from  which  the  smoke  arose  were  invisible;  we  could  not,  therefore, 
judge  of  their  number,  and  the  consequent  strength  of  the  enemy.  A 
small  pond  of  water  was  observed  about  two  miles  south  of  this  spot, 
which  was  appointed  as  a  rendezvous  and  camping  place.  We  soon 
after  began  descending  the  mountain,  on  the  only  practicable  trail  in 
the  vicinity,  more  than  two  miles  south  of  where  we  had  seen  the 
smoke,  intending  to  conceal  our  movements  until  the  pack-train  was 
disposed  of  at  the  above  mentioned  pond  of  water,  and  then  to  pro- 
ceed to  surprise  the  rancheria.  Our  plans  were  frustrated  by  an  un- 

H.  Ex.  Doc.  69 2. 


18  INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW  MEXICO. 

foreseen  circumstance.  As  we  were  descending  a  very  steep  and 
winding  part  of  the  trail,  a  mounted  Navajoe  suddenly  appeared 
around  a  bend,  coming  up  the  mountain  a  few  yards  in  front  of  us. 
He  stopped  for  an  instant,  then  turned  and  fled.  The  Navajoe  inter- 
preter, who  was  in  advance,  fired  at  him  with  a  pistol,  but  without 
effect,  so  far  as  I  was  able  to  ascertain,  though  we  soon  after  cap- 
tured a  horse  saddled,  but  with  no  rider.  Knowing  that  all  further 
attempts  at  concealment  would  be  useless,  I  gave  the  order  to  advance. 
Lieutenants  Walker,  Shipley,  myself,  Mr.  Kendrick,  and  El  Huero, 
being  mounted  upon  private  horses,  formed  ourselves  into  a  small 
mounted  force,  and  knowing  that  whatever  was  done  must  be  done 
quickly,  I  directed  the  men  to  follow  rapidly  in  our  direction,  and  we 
dashed  down  the  mountain  towards  where  he  had  seen  the  smoke. 
As  we  approached  the  vicinity  of  the  huts  we  came  upon  the  fresh  tracks 
of  horses  and  sheep.  Not  knowing  the  exact  location  of  the  huts,  and 
expecting  to  find  the  warriors  with  their  stock,  we  kept  upon  the  trail 
of  the  latter,  which  was  followed  by  Huero  with  unsurpassed  skill 
and  rapidity,  though  the  Indiana,  by  frequent  turnings  and  doublings 
over  the  rocky  ground  and  through  the  thickets,  attempted  to  throw 
us  off  the  track.  We  soon  came  upon  the  horses  and  sheep  in  a  rocky 
glen  thickly  grown  up  with  pinon  and  cedar,  in  the  possession  of  six 
or  eight  warriors,  so  far  as  we  could  judge,  who  were  hurrying  them  off. 

When  they  found  themselves  discovered,  they  attempted,  to  stam- 
pede the  horses,  but  without  success,  as  we  did  not  give  them  time. 
With  a  few  shots,  a  war  whoop  from  Huero,  and  a  cheer  from  the 
others,  we  dashed  .upon  them,  when  the  Indians  ran  away,  leaving 
their  stock  in  our  possession.  As  the  country  was  impracticable  for 
mounted  pursuit,  being  about  five  miles  from  where  the  chase  began, 
and  knowing  that  our  men  were  still  far  behind,  I  deemed  it  prudent 
to  secure  what  we  had,  by  taking  it  as  quickly  as  possible  to  the  ren- 
dezvous. The  Navajoes  soon  appeared  gathering  in  considerable 
strength  in  our  rear,  and  as  the  sheep  travelled  very  slowly,  we 
thought  it  best  to  leave  them  and  take  the  horses  to  the  camping 
place,  which  we  accomplished,  and  later  in  the  day  the  men  took  the 
sheep  to  the  same  place. 

The  main  trail  which  the  troops  were  on  led  them  to  the  houses,  of 
which  there  were  about  twelve.  The  Indians  had,  however,  received 
sufficient  warning  to  enable  them  to  escape  with  their  lives,  leaving 
behind,  however,  blankets,  cooking  utensils,  provisions,  wearing  ap- 
paratus, &c.  As  an  evidence  of  guilt  on  the  part  of  these  Indians,  I 
would  state  that  I  found  among  their  property  a  portion  of  a  tent, 
undoubtedly  a  part  of  one  of  those  stolen  from  the  garden  at  this  post 
a  few  nights  since. 

Knowing  that  the  alarm  was  spread  throughout  Tunicha,  as  signal 
smokes  and  fires  were  soon  made  upon  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  I 
knew  that  any  further  surprise  for  the  present  was  out  of  the  question; 
and,  being  encumbered  with  stock,  I  thought  the  best  course  was  to 
return  to  the  post  of  Fort  Defiance,  which  we  reached  in  the  evening 
of  the  next  day,  bringing  in  sixty-two  captured  horses,  one  mule^  an 
equivalent  in  sheep  for  those  stolen  from  the  post,  and  between  'one 
hundred  and  twenty  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  goats. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW  NEX1CO.  19' 

The  loss  on  our  part  was  one  man.  Private  Patrick  Rice,  of  "E" 
company,  3d  infantry,  missing,  supposed  to  have  voluntarily  sepa- 
rated himself  from  the  command. 

The  men  exhibited  the  greatest  zeal,  and  could  their  ability  have 
equalled  their  wishes,  the  surprise  of  the  village  would  have  been  com- 
plete ;  but  the  command  was  composed  of  infantry  entirely,  and  of 
course  could  not  move  with  the  celerity  required  by  the  circum- 
stances. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WM.  D.  WHIPPLE, 
First  Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  Com.  Scout. 
Second  Lieut.  H.  DICKINSON, 

Third  Infantry  Adjutant,  Fort  Defiance,  N.  M. 


6.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  N.  M., 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  December  11,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  state  that  when  I  came  to  this  depart- 
ment, I  found  an  expedition  had  been  organized  against  the  Pinal 
Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Buchanan.  Papers  marked  Nos.  1 
and  2,  herewith  enclosed,  will  exhibit  the  manner  in  which  that  expe- 
dition has  been  carried  out.  I  have  felt  myself  compelled  to  order 
the  additional  troops,  sent  to  reinforce  Lieutenant  Reeve,  Captain  8th 
infantry,  back  to  their  posts. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

THOS.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
Colonel  First  Dragoons,  Com.  Department* 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 

Ass't  Adj't  General,  Headq's  of  the  army,  New  York  City. 


6  a. 

FORT  FILLMORE,  N.  M.,  October  22,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  the  department  commander,  that 
the  details  from  Fort  Bliss,  Texas,  and  Fort  Fillmore,  New  Mexico, 
have  been  organized  as  required  by  special  order  No.  121,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1859,  and  that  the  command  will  leave  here  to-morrow  for 
the  depot  on  the  San  Pedro.  Colonel  Reeve  has  been  notified 
of  this.  Fifty  rounds  per  man  of  rifle  and  carbine  ca'  ridges,  and 
twenty-four  of  pistol,  is  being  taken,  also  a  pair  of  horse  shoes  and 
a  pair  of  mule  shoes,  with  nails  for  the  same,  and  extra  nails  ;  twelve 
head  of  beef  cattle  will  also  be  taken.  A  notice  of  Captain  Wain- 
wright,  of  ordnance  stores  having  been  ordered,  has  been  received  at 
this  post.  The  horses  of  company  "C"  rifles  having  recently  joined 
from  the  field,  and  a  greater  portion  of  those  of  company  "  A"  rifles  hav- 
ing been  received  from  Fort  Leavenworth,  are  thin,  and  require  corn, 
which  I  have  arranged  to  be  taken,  eight  pounds  to  the  animal,  for 


20  INDIAN  HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   NEXICO. 

•fifteen  ^days  ;  without  this  the  horses  would  not  he  in  condition  for  the 
campaign  on  reaching  the  depot.  The  department  commander 
has,  in  this,  a  report  for  the  equipment,  &c.  of  my  command,  which 
I  consider  all  that  can  be  taken  for  the  march. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  ELLIOT, 
Captain  Rifles,  Commanding. 
"First  Lieut.  JNO.  D.  WILKINS, 

3d  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G.  Headq's  Dept.  of  N.  H.  Santa  Fe. 


6  b. 

CAMP  SAN  PEDRO,  N.  M., 

November  27,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  expedi- 
tion made  hy  the  troops  under  my  command  against  the  Final  Apache 
Indians,  from  which  I  returned  yesterday. 

I  marched  from  this  camp  on  the  12th  instant,  with  company  "D  " 
and  a  detachment  of  company  "  G-,'1  1st  dragoons,  and  companies 
"A"  and  "C"  mounted  rifles,  nuinbeing  in  all  171  men  and  5 
officers,  supplied  with  15  days'  rations.  On  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
day's  march,  while  descending  the  San  Pedro,  the  command  was 
hailed  by  some  Indians  from  the  top  of  a  hill,  some  half  or  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  road,  and  I  sent  out  a  guide  to  learn  what 
Indians  they  were  and  what  they  wanted. 

After  some  little  delay  the  guide  returned,  bringing  with  him  seven 
(7)  of  the  Indians,  informing  me  at  the  same  time  that  they  were 
Finalenos  ;  that  they  had  asked  him  who  we  were,  and  where  we  were 
going  ;  to  which  he  replied  :  "  That  we  were  friends  ;  that  we  were 
not  going  on  a  campaign,  but  were  going  to  look  for  gold,  and  find  a 
place  to  put  a  fort ;"  and  told  them  to  come  and  see  the  captain,  and 
he  would  give  them  some  tobacco  and  something  to  eat.  These  rep- 
resentations were  made  without  my  knowledge,  for  I  had  given  in- 
structions to  the  guide  to  u  see  who  they  were  and  what  they  wanted," 
never  supposing  that  he  would  use  any  deception  upon  his  own  respon- 
sibility. There  were  others  of  the  same  party  remaining  amongst  the 
hills,  and  those  who  had  come  to  us  called  them  to  come  also,  but  they 
would  not  do  so.  Twelve  of  them  were,  however,  at  one  time  in  my 
power. 

Had  the  whole  party  come  in,  I  would  have  seized  them  to  prevent  them 
from  giving  notice  of  our  march,  but  should  not,  of  course,  have  used 
any  other  violence  towards  them.  As  it  was,  to  have  a  portion  of  them 
would  not  have  prevented  the  others  from  giving  notice  to  their  friends; 
and  I  could  not  attack  and  kill  them,  as  they  had  been  placed  in  my 
power  by  the  misrepresentations  of  the  guide.  As,  however,  the  com- 
mand was  much  in  want  of  guides,  I  seized  two  of  them  and  made  them 
act  in  that  capacity  during  the  expedition.  As  the  facts  proved,  notice 
had  already  been  carried  to  the  Indians  of  our  advance,  by  two  men  on 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  21 

horseback,  who  passed  the  command  on  the  night  of  the  third  day's 
march. 

We  reached  the  camp  of  a  party  of  them  on  the  morning  of  the  sixth 
day,  about  one  hundred  and  ten  or  one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles  from 
this  camp,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mescal  mountains,  hut,  of  course, 
found  it  deserted,  it  having  been  left  probably  the  day  before.  The 
Indians  had  fled  into  the  Mescal  mountains,  when  pursuit,  which 
could  be  made  only  on  foot,  would  have  been  worse  than  useless,  and 
it  would  have  been  easy  for  them  to  avoid  us  for  a  much  longer  time 
than  we  had  rations  for  ;  besides  a  delay  in  such  a  search  would  have 
prevented  us  from  examining  other  localities  where  it  was  possible  we 
might  meet  with  success.  On  the  night  of  the  same  day,  (the  17th,) 
Captain  Elliot  and  Lieutenant  McNeill  were  despatched  with  two 
companies  of  rifles,  (70  men,)  to  examine  another  location,  which  place 
they  reached  in  the  forepart  of  the  following  day,  and  by  the  night 
march  were  enabled  to  surprise  a  small  camp  of  Indians,  capturing  one 
man,  two  women,  and  seventeen  small  children.  The  man  and  one 
woman,  (his  wife,)  I  kept  prisoners  for  the  purpose  of  making  guides 
or  messengers  of  them,  as  the  service  may  require.  The  other  woman 
(an  old  and  wretched  creature,)  with  the  children,  I  permitted  to  go 
free,  as  they  would  only  be  a  useless  burden  to  the  command  if  re- 
tained. On  the  18th  I  marched  with  the  mounted  companies  of  dra- 
goons to  visit  the  locations  north  of  the  Final  mountains,  where  the 
Indians  are  in  the  habit  of  planting,  but  there,  also,  I  found  everything 
recently  deserted,  notice  of  our  advance  having  reached  them  in  time  for 
them  to  flee  to  the  mountains.  I  remained  in  camp  at  this  place  during 
the  19th  for  Captain  Elliot's  comma  id  to  rejoin  me.  From  this  point  it 
became  necessary  to  commence  our  homeward  march,  being  over  one 
hundred  and  forty  miles  from  the  depot,  having  but  seven  days'  ra- 
tions on  hand,  many  of  our  horses  and  mules  being  nearly  tired  out, 
and  an  excessively  rough  country  to  travel  over.  On  the  18th,  the 
first  horse  ("  A"  company  rifles)  gave  out,  was  abandoned  and  shot. 
On  the  night  of  the  19th  one  of  the  Indian  prisoners,  first  taken,  es- 
caped. From  the  20tb,  during  the  march  home,  horses  and  mules  were 
daily  abandoned  and  killed,  having  given  out  and  broken  down  from 
hard  work  and  starvation.  Of  company  "  A"  rifles,  five  horses  and  one 
mule  killed  ;  of  company  "  C"  rifles,  three  horses  killed  ;  of  company 
"  D  "  1st  dragoons,  one  horse  lost  and  two  killed,  (these  latter  belong- 
ing to  company  "  C"  rifles,  but  serving  with  company  "  D  "  dragoons,) 
and  three  mules  killed.  Of  the  horses  of  company  A  and  C  rifles,  a 
large  number  had  arrived  from  Fort  Leaven  worth  but  a  short  time  be- 
fore leaving  the  Rio  Grande,  and  were  totally  unfit  for  field  service, 
being  low  in  flesh  and  in  want  of  rest.  The  horses  of  company  "  C  " 
had  been  most  of  the  summer  without  corn,  and  were  not  in  proper 
condition  for  hard  service.  A  large  number  of  the  pack-mules  which 
came  from  the  Rio  Grande  were  in  bad  condition  when  they  left  there ,, 
and  being  packed  from  there  to  this  depot,  were,  of  course,  in  much 
worse  condition  when  they  arrived  here,  some  25  of  them  being  unfit 
to  go  on  the  scout  from  this  place.  Those  that  did  go  were  necessarily 
heavily  packed  ;  and  of  the  number  now  remaining  but  15  are  fit  for 
immediate  service.  Of  the  horses  and  mules  of  company  "G"  dra- 


22  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

goons,  none  were  broken  down,  having  started  fresh  from  Fort  Bu- 
chanan, but  several  of  the  mules  are  rendered  unserviceable  from  sore 
backs,  some  seven  or  eight  of  the  fourteen  used  being  fit  for  imme- 
diate service. 

I  enclose  herewith  Lieutenant  Cooke's  report  of  his  movement  during 
my  absence  from  the  depot,  he  having  been  left  in  command  of  company 
B,  8th  infantry.  For  the  better  information  of  the  colonel  command- 
ing, I  enclose  herewith  the  reports  of  the  company  commanders  of  the 
condition  of  their  animals.  The  detachment  of  company  "  Gr  "  dra- 
goons, was  under  my  command,  there  being  no  dragoon  officer  with  it. 

I  would  respespectfully  state,  as  my  opinion,  that  no  beneficial  re- 
sults can  be  obtained  by  prosecuting  the  campaign  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  from  this  point.  This  depot  is  nearly  sixty  miles  from  Fort 
Buchanan,  and  the  means  allowed  me  to  supply  the  command  are 
totally  inadequate.  Unless  full  forage  can  be  fed  to  the  animals  while 
here,  they  cannot  possibly  do  any  service,  as  the  best  of  them  would 
be  entirely  broken  down  by  another  expedition  of  fifteen  days.  The 
country  over  which  we  have  to  pass  on  both  sides  of  the  Gila  is  ex- 
ceedingly rough,  and,  with  the  slow  progress  necessarily  made,  noth- 
ing could  be  done  in  less  than  fifteen  days.  The  Indians  have  scat- 
tered in  small  parties,  and  taken  refuge  where  there  is  but  little  water, 
so  that  at  those  points  no  considerable  number  of  animals  could  be 
supplied  The  Final  and  Mescal  mountains  can  be  reached  from  Fort 
Buchanan  as  quickly,  and  over  a  much  better  country,  by  way  of 
Tueson  than  by  the  San  Pedro,  from  this  point.  The  amount  of  trans- 
portation from  Fort  Buchanan  here  can  thus  be  avoided,  and  if  turned 
in  the  other  direction  would  place  our  supplies  nearly  three  days'  march 
nearer  the  Indian  country.  I  would  further  express,  as  my  opinion, 
that  the  present  is  not  the  best  season  to  prosecute  a  campaign  against 
these  Indians.  The  spring  and  summer  would  be  better,  when  they 
must  leave  the  mountains  to  plant,  as  is  their  habit,  and  gather  their 
crops.  If  they  remain  in  the  mountains  they  must  be  pursued  by  in- 
fantry, moving  from  some  depot  established  in  the  near  neighborhood, 
from  which  men  can  make  marches  of  a  few  days,  carrying  their  own 
rations  for  the  time.  Cavalry  sufficient  to  intercept  or  pursue  in  case 
of  flight  from  one  mountain  to  another,  would  be  all  that  would  be 
necessary.  These  Indians  are  now  very  poor,  have  but  little  stock, 
and  are  in  a  state  of  great  alarm  about  their  safety.  Some  good  might 
be  accomplished  by  negociatiori  through  the  woman  in  our  possession, 
as  a  messenger,  if  such  a  course  should  be  thought  advisable.  In  a 
few  days,  as  soon  as  our  animals  are  a  little  rested,  I  shall  abandon 
this  depot  and  move  the  command  to  Fort  Buchanan,  for  the  purpose 
of  having  forage  for  our  animals,  and  as  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of 
the  best  of  them  are  a  little  recruited,  I  shall  make  another  expedi- 
tion into  the  Final  country  by  way  of  Tueson.  This  will  probably 
destroy  the  efficiency  of  the  entire  number  of  animals  for  the  whole 
winter.  It  is  impossible  to  make  many  expeditions  of  fifteen  days 
each,  through  this  country,  in  the  winter  season,  with  she  same 
animals. 

Department   special  orders  No.  121,  suggests  a  scout  against  the 
Chiricahui  Indians.     Since  the  publication  of  that  order,  the  Indian 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  23 

agent,  Dr.  Steck,  has  visited  those  Indians,  has  distributed  presents 
to  them,  and  met  with  and  treated  them  in  all  respects  as  faithful 
friends.  It  is  well  known  that  they  have  often  stolen  during  the  half 
past  year,  and  no  demand  was  made  by  Dr.  Steck,  so  far  as  I  know, 
for  a  restitution  of  the  animals.  They  are  responsible  for  about  twen- 
ty-four animals,  stolen  in  July  last,  from  the  Ariraca  mine,  belong- 
ing to  the  Sonora  Exploring  and  Mining  Company  ;  also  five  animals 
stolen  from  the  Patagonia  mine.  I  cannot  make  an  expedition 
against  these  Indians  with  the  means  left  in  my  possession  after  an- 
other scout  against  the  Finals,  and  shall  therefore  await  your  further 
instructions  on  this  subject. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  V.  D.  REEVE, 
Brevet  Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

Lieut.  JNO.  D.  WILKINS, 

Act.  Asst.  Adj.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 


6c. 

CAMP  SAN  PEDRO, 

November  27,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  a  party  of  about  ten  Pinal 
Indians  passed  my  camp  on  the  14th  instant,  from  whom  I  succeeded 
in  capturing  near  thirty  horses.  The  most  of  these  horses,  being  wild 
and  hard  to  manage,  I  had  shot,  fearing  they  might  stampede  the 
government  animals  under  my  charge. 

On  the  19th  instant,  another  party  of  the  same  tribe  passed  in  my 
neighborhood,  whom  I  attacked,  wounding  three,  and  capturing  fit- 
teen  head  of  cattle. 

Very  respectfully, 

JNO.  K.  COOKE, 
Second  Lieutenant  Infantry. 
Col.  J.  V.  D.  KEEVE, 

Com'g  Pinal  Expedition)  Camp  San  Pedro,  Arizona. 


Qd. 

CAMP  ON  Rro  SAN  PEDRO,  ARIZONA, 

November  27, 1859. 

SIR  :  By  your  direction  I  give  the  following  report  of  the  condition 
of  the  horses  of  my  company.  I  left  Fort  Bliss  with  ftfrty-two  horses, 
twenty-four  of  this  number  were  received  from  Fort  Leavenworth  a 
few  days  before  leaving,  and  were  thin  and  weak,  but  reached  this 
camp  in  better  condition  than  they  were  on  leaving  Bliss.  During 
the  scout  from  the  12th  to  the  26th,  six  horses  and  one  pack-mule 
were  necessarily  abandoned,  one  of  the  six  horses  may  be  brought  in 
to-day,  having  been  sent  for  and  corn  sent ;  one  horse  was  left  at  Fort 


24  INDIAN  HOSTILITIES   IN   MEW   MEXICO. 

Fillmore,  unable  to  travel.  Of  the  thirty-five  horses  now  present,,  I 
have  twelve  old  and  five  new  ones,  that  eight  or  ten  days'  rest  and 
grain  will  bring  in  condition  for  a  scout,  the  other  eighteen  will  not  be 
fit  for  a  scout  in  less  time  than  five  or  six  weeks,  with  the  greatest 
care.  For  immediate  service,  without  grain,  I  have  not  five  horses- 
that  could  be  depended  upon  ;  of  fourteen  pack-mules,  only  five  are  fit 
for  service. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  ELLIOT, 
Copt.  Rifles,  com'g  comp.  "A." 
Bt.  Lieut.  Col.  J.  V.  D.  EEEVE, 

U.  S.  Army,  commanding  expedition. 


6  e. 

HEADQUARTERS,  CAMP  SAN  PEDRO,  N.  M., 

November  27,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  of  forty-seven  horses  with 
which  company  "  D,"  1st  dragoons,  started  on  the  Final  Llano  ex- 
pedition, two  belonging  to  company  "  C,"  regiment  mounted  rifle- 
men, were  necessarily  abandoned,  given  out  on  the  fifteen  days'  scout 
which  has  just  returned.  One  of  company  "  D,"  1st  dragoons,  una- 
voidably lost.  There  is  left  in  the  company  forty- three  horses,  be- 
longing to  company  "  D,"  one  to  company  "  C"  regiment  mounted 
riflemen  ;  nine  of  those  of  company  u  D  "  are  unfit  for  immediate  use, 
one  belonging  to  company  "  C"  regiment  mounted  riflemen  is  unfit 
for  use,  on  account  of  their  being  old,  poor,  and  worn  out. 

Of  the  seventeen  mules  turned  over  to  me  for  the  use  of  myself  and 
company,  three  have  been  abandoned,  given  out ;  of  the  fourteen  re- 
maining in  the  company,  not  more  than  five  are  fit  for  immediate  use, 
the  others  are  poor  and  broken  down. 

Kespectfully  submitted, 

R.  H.  LORD, 

Second  Lieutenant  1st  Troop,  com'g  D. 
Lieut.  Col.  REEVE, 

Eighth  Inft.  com'g  exp'd,  camp  San  Pedro,  N.  M. 


CAMP  SAN  PEDRO,  N.  M., 

November  27,  1859. 

COLONEL:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  in  regard  to- 
the  condition  of  the  public  animals  in  my  charge.  On  the  23d  ult.  I 
left  Fort  Fillmore  with  fifty-three  horses  belonging  to  company  C,  regi- 
ment mounted  riflemen,  for  this  camp,  and  eighteen  pack-mules  for  the 
use  of  the  detachment  and  myself.  Out  of  this  number  two  horses 
belonging  to  the  company  had  to  be  left  behind  on  starting  on  the 
scout  of  fifteen  days  just  terminated — one  in  consequence  of  having 
given  out,  and  the  other  having  too  sore  a  back  to  travel.  During  the 


IN'DIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  25 

scout  referred  to  above,  three  horses  of  my  detachment  gave  completely 
out,  and  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  I  or- 
dered them  to  be  shot.  Of  the  fifty  horses  left,  five  at  the  present  time 
are  fit  for  immediate  service.  With  two  weeks'  rest  and  full  forage 
for  the  same  time,  twenty-five  I  think  would  have  so  far  recuperated 
as  to  be  in  scouting  condition.  It  would  require  two  months'  rest  and 
full  forage  for  the  same  time  to  get  the  majority  of  horses  in  a  condi- 
tion for  effective  service.  And  here  I  would  respectful!}'  call  your  at- 
tention to  the  fact  that  the  great  majority  of  my  horses  have  been 
without  forage  from  the  early  part  of  June  to  the  middle  of  October, 
and  consequently  had  not  the  necessary  strength  for  a  campaign  in 
such  a  country  as  that  through  which  we  have  just  passed  ;  also  some 
of  the  horses  brought  with  me  had  arrived  but  a  short  time  before 
from  Leaven  worth,  and  were  both  leg-weary  and  poor  in  flesh,  and 
consequently  were  not  in  a  fit  condition  for  the  service  required.  Five 
out  of  the  eighteen  pack-mules  turned  over  to  me  are  in  a  situation 
for  packing  ;  the  others  are  either  too  weak  or  have  such  sore  backs 
as  to  render  them  useless. 

I  am,  colonel,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  C.  McNEILL, 
Second  Lieutenant  R.  M.  R.,  commanding  detachment  and  company  C. 

Brevet  Colonel  J.  V.  D.  KEEVE,   U.  S.  Army, 

Commanding  expedition  against  Pinal  Indians. 


7.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  December  12,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General-in-chief  the  enclosed  report,  marked  A.,  showing 
the  disposition  of  the  Indians  on  the  mail  route  between  Independence 
and  this  place.  The  point  indicated  in  the  report  is  beyond  the 
limits  of  this  department,  being  between  it  and  the  department  of  the 
west. 

As  this  mail  is  very  irregular,  communications  for  this  dej  a,:tment 
had  better  be  sent  via  the  overland  mail  from  St.  Louis. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

Colonel  First  Dragoons  commanding  department, 
Liutenant  Colonel  L.  THOMAS, 

A.  A.  G.,  Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New-York  City. 


7  a. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  UNION,  N.  M. , 

December  9,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  return  of  Sergeant  Francis 
McCabe,  of  company  H,  regiment  mounted  riflemen,  and  escort  with 


26  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES    IN    NEW   MEXICO. 

the  mail,  this  morning.  Sergeant  McCabe  reports  that  he  was  at- 
tacked by  about  twenty  mounted  Kiowa  Indians  on  the  night  of  the 
4th  instant  at  Cold  spring  ;  that  the  attacking  party  were  driven  off 
in  a  few  minutes,  but  that  about  ten  Indians  on  foot  kept  up  a  fire 
from  the  rocks  near  the  camp  for  several  hours  ;  that  next  morn- 
ing he  found  the  Indians  near  the  road  about  six  hundred  yards  from 
his  camp,  attacked  them  and  compelled  them  to  run  away.  When 
the  mounted  Indians  made  the  attack  on  his  camp,  he  saw  about  twenty 
more  on  foot  on  an  adjacent  hill ;  these  Indians  started  a  fire  on  the 
prairie  which  burnt  to  within  a  few  rods  from  his  camp.  The  ser- 
geant is  of  opinion  that  several  Indians  were  killed  and  wounded,  as 
also  several  of  their  horses.  One  man,  private  Isaac  H.  Baker,  com- 
pany H,  regiment  mounted  riflemen,  was  slightly  wounded. 

Sergeant  McCabe  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the  coolness  and  courage 
of  his  men,  and  says,  "that  Corporal  Thomas  N.  Brierly,  company  G-, 
regiment  mounted  riflemen,  particularly  distinguished  himself.  He 
also  reports  that  a  majority  of  his  men  have  had  their  ears,  fingers, 
and  toes  badly  frozen,  and  that  some  Mexican  traders  informed  him 
that  the  Kiowas  have  declared  their  determination  to  kill  every  white 
man  that  may  happen  to  fall  in  their  way." 

I  am.  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  SIMONSON, 
Major  E.  M.  E.,  commanding  post. 

Lieut.  J.  D.  WILKINS,  A.  A.  A.  G., 

Department  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe. 


8.  Cclonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Fort  Union,  Santa  Fe,  January  8,  I860. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  for  the  information  of  the 
General-in-chief  a  copy  of  the  report  of  Second  Lieutenant  H.  C. 
McNeill,  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen,  of  a  scout  against  the  Final 
Indians. 

I  am.  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

TH.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
Colonel  First  Dragoons,  commanding  department. 

To  Lieutenant  Colonel  L.  THOMAS,  A.  A.  G., 

Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New  York  city. 


8  a. 


FORT  BUCHANAN,  N.  M. 

December  7,  1859. 


CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  agreeably  to  your  order, 
I  started  on  the  night  of  the  3d  inst.,  at  ten  o'clock,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  25  men  composed  of  detachment  of  companies  "A"  and  "C" 
rifles,  in  pursuit  of  a  party  of  Final  Indians,  reported  to  have  passed 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO,  27 

Dragoon  Springs  at  2  o'clock  p.  in.  of  that  day,  At  11  or  12  o'clock 
next  day  I  came  in  sight  of  the  Indians,  and,  after  a  sharp  chase  of 
seven  miles,  succeeded  in  overtaking  them  just  as  they  were  about  en- 
tering the  mountains. 

I  proceeded  at  once  to  attack  them,  killed  two,  wounded  three,  re- 
covered from  them  a  Mexican  captive,  captured  all  their  animals, 
thirteen  horses  and  other  plunder.  The  horses  being  poor,  broken 
down,  and  unfit  for  service,  no  account  was  taken  of  them,  and  not 
wishing  to  be  encumbered,  I  ordered  the  plunder  to  be  burned,  only 
reserving  such  articles  as  I  deemed  would  be  useful  in  recovering  the 
parents  or  friends  of  the  captive  boy.  I  had  one  horse  belonging  to 
company  "A"  so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  necessitated  to  abandon  him. 
I  can  but  regret  that  the  weak  and  poor  condition  of  my  horses, 
together  with  a  detention  of  half  an  hour  caused  by  the  guides  losing 
the  trail,  prevented  my  overtaking  the  Indians  before  they  reached 
the  mountains,  as  in  that  case  I  could  have  killed  the  entire  party. 
There  were  some  ten  or  twelve  Indians,  as  near  as  I  could  estimate 
them  all.  In  conclusion,  I  would  state  that  all  my  men  behaved  well. 

I  am,  captain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  C.  McNEILL, 
2d  Lt.  B.  M.  E.  Com.  Detachment  company  "C." 

Capt.  W.  S.  ELLIOT, 

R.  M.  R.  Com.  Detachment  companies  (<A."  and  "C." 


3.  The  Adjutant  General  to  Colonel  Fauntleroy. 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

Washington,  January  10,  1860. 

SIR  :  The  letter  of  Colonel  B.  L.  E.  Bonneville,  3d  infantry,  to  the 
assistant  adjutant  general  at  the  headquarters  of  the  army,  dated 
the  14th  of  August,  1859,  reporting  the  state  of  affairs,  at  that  time, 
with  the  Navajoe  Indians,  has  been  forwarded  to  this  office  and  laid 
before  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  has  endorsed  it  as  follows  : 

"The  instructions  of  the  department  commander  to  the  command- 
ing officer  of  Fort  Defiance,  dated  the  12th  of  August,  are  not  entire- 
ly approved.  It  is  not  deemed  advisable  that  even  isolated  attacks  on 
the  Indians  shall  depend  rigidly  on  an  intimation  of  the  Indian  agent. 
The  authority  and  influence  of  the  agent  must  be  sustained,  but  the 
commander  himself,  in  the  absence  of  orders  from  higher  authority, 
will  judge  whether  the  circumstances  require  that  the  Indians,  or 
particular  parties  of  them,  shall  be  punished,  and  the  responsibility 
of  the  decision  must  rest  solely  on  him." 

"J.  B.  FLOYD, 
"Secretary  of  War. 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  January  5,  1860." 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  COOPER, 

Adjutant  General. 
Col.  T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

1st  Drag.  Com.  Dept.  N.  M.,  Santa  Fe}  New  Mexico. 


28  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW  MEXICO. 


10.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPT.  OF  NE\V  MEXICO. 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  January  22,  1860. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General-in-chief,  a  copy  of  the  report  of  a  scout,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  George  McLaiie,  K.  M.  K. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

Col.  1st  Drag.  Com.  Dept. 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Geril.,  headquarters  of  the  army.  New  fork  city. 


10  a. 

FORT  CRAIG,  NEW  MEXICO, 

January  6,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  pursuant  to  the  verbal  in- 
structions of  the  commanding  officer,  I  left  here  yesterday  at  2  o'clock 
p.  m.,  in  pursuit  of  Indians  reported  to  have  driven  off  several  herds 
of  sheep  from  the  vicinity  of  this  post,  killing  or  capturing  the  pas- 
tors grazing  there. 

My  command  consisted  of  Lieut.  Cressy,  Corporal  Knox,  Lance 
Corporal  Monohan,  and  private  Ronayne  of  company  "J"  rifles,  and 
Sergeant  Cosgrove,  Lance  Corporal  Price,  and  40  men  of  company 
"F"  rifles  ;  we  were  accompanied  by  the  guide  of  the  post,  whom  I 
found  to  be  an  excellent  trailer.  After  a  gallop  of  three  quarters  of 
an  hour,  I  reached  the  spot  where  the  Indians  had  attacked  the 
herders  and  driven  off  the  sheep  ;  one  of  the  herders  I  found  here 
dead.  The  Indians,  from  appearances  and  accounts,  had  made  their 
attack  before  sunrise  that  morning,  so  I  immediately  pushed  on,  keep- 
ing up  a  brisk  gallop  until  the  lateness  of  the  evening  compelled  me 
to  move  at  a  slower  gate,  to  prevent  losing  the  trail.  After  a  hard 
ride  over,  for  a  portion  of  the  time,  a  pretty  rough  country,  we  over- 
took, in  the  mountains  west  of  here,  at  about  8  o'clock  of  the  evening, 
nearly,  if  not  the  entire  herd  of  sheep  driven  off;  the  Indians  availed 
themselves  of  the  cover  of  the  night  to  make  good  their  escape  ;  they 
made  no  effort  to  defend  their  booty,  in  fact,  I  neither  saw  nor  heard 
an  Indian.  Pursuit  of  the  Indians  could  amount  to  nothing  practica- 
ble, scattered  as  they  were  through  the  hills,  and,  fearing  that  they 
might  return  to  annoy  me,  I  camped  out,  and  regarding  it  as  in  every 
way  more  preferable  to  going  into  camp.  I  headed  the  herd  in  a 
direct  route,  and  by  a  far  shorter  one  than  the  one  I  had  just  passed 
over,  for  the  post  arriving  here  at  2J  o'clock  this  morning,  after  a  fa- 
tiguing march  of  twelve  hours  in  the  saddle. 

The  distance  marched,  during  the  twelve  hours,  I  judge,  to  have 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW  MEXICO.  29 

been  some  fifty  or  sixty  miles  ;  the  number  of  sheep  captured,  I  sup- 
pose can  be  fairly  stated  as  having  been  at  least  six  thousand. 
Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  McLANE, 
Capt.  ft.  M.  E.  Com.  Company  "J." 
Bvt.  Capt.  JOHN  P.  HATCH,  U.  8.  A., 

Post  Adjutant,  Fort  Craig,  N.  M. 

Respectfully  forwarded. 

A.  POTTER, 

Bvt.  Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  Com.  Post. 
HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  CRAIG,  N.  M. 
January  10, 1860. 


11.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPT.  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  January  29,  1860. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  for  the  information  of  the 
the  Lieutenant  General-in-chief,  the  enclosed  report  of  brevet  Major  0. 
L.  Shepherd,  3d  infantry,  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Defiance,  which 
will  fully  disclose  the  disposition  of  the  Navajoe  Indians  with  regard 
to  peace  or  war.  Upon  my  arrival  in  this  Territory  in  November  last, 
I  was  compelled  to  withdraw  the  troops  from  the  Navajoe  country  on 
account  of  the  condition  of  things  in  this  department — the  advanced 
state  of  the  season,  the  total  unpreparation  of  the  troops,  and  the  utter 
impossibility  of  supplying  the  command  in  the  Indian  country  dur- 
ing the  winter  season.  This  was  reported  at  the  time  of  withdrawal. 
The  state  of  things  as  seen  by  the  report  enclosed,  will  in  all  proba- 
bility make  a  campaign  against  the  Indians  necessary;  under  which 
circumstances  I  now  submit  for  the  approval  of  the  Lieutenant  General- 
in-chief  the  plan  of  a  campaign.  This  will  be  to  employ  ten  com- 
panies of  volunteers,  unless  more  troops,  to  the  amount  of  a  regiment 
at  least,  be  sent  here,  and  three  hundred  Utah  Indians.  I  have  been 
informed  directly  from  this  tribe  of  Indians,  that  they  desire  to  act 
under  my  command  in  any  expedition  that  may  be  gotten  up  against 
the  Navajoes;  and  Kit  Carson,  the  great  pioneer  and  woodman,  has 
assured  me  that  that  number  can  be  raised,  the  best  riflemen  in  the 
world.  I  desire  that  I  may  be  allowed  to  employ  them,  as  they  do 
not  require  pay  as  soldiers,  but  only  to  be  supplied  for  a  short  time 
with  provisions,  until  they  can  get  well  into  the  Indian  country.  I 
cannot  but  recommend  this  plan,  as  it  will  at  once  have  the  effect  to 
get  the  co-operation  of  a  most  valuable  force,  and  at  the  same  time 
employ  these  restless  people,  who  otherwise  must  foray  upon  our  own 
settlements. 

If  a  war  against  the  Navajoes  becomes  necessary,  I  desire  to  make 
it  as  depisive  as  possible,  by  striding  a  blow  that  they  will  never  for- 


30  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW    MEXICO. 

get.     If  my  views  are  carried  out,  I  promise  the  Navajoe  difficulties 
will  never  be  again  heard  of. 

I  desire  an  answer  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  « 

THOMAS  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
1st  Dragoons,  Commanding  Dept. 

Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS,  A.  A.  G.y 

Headquarters  of  the  army.  New  York  City-. 

P.  S.  I  also  enclose  a  copy  of  my  letter  to   Major  Shepherd,  com- 
manding officer  of  Fort  Defiance,  upon  the  recept  of  his  report. 


11  a. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  DEFIANCE, 

Neiv  Mexico,  January  17,  1860. 

SIR  :  My  letter  to  department  headquarters,  of  the  14th  October 
last,  plainly  told  and  showed  what  would  be  the  consequence  of  mak- 
ing a  "foray"  against  the  Tunicha  Navajoes,  in  obedience  to  orders 
dated  Headquarters,  Department  New  Mexico,  October  2,  1859.  In 
spite  of  the  representations  of  my  letter,  the  order  was  reiterated,  and 
Major  Ruff,  then  newly  arrived,  without  a  solitary  day's  experience 
with  the  Navajoe  Indians,  disagreed  in  the  face  of  the  unanimous 
opinion  of  the  officers  belonging  to  the  post  "  that  there  loould  result  a 
tvar,"  and  directed  the  execution  of  the  order,  and  immediately  after 
its  accomplishment  the  whole  outside  force  marched  away.  It  looked 
somewhat  like  the  wicked  fleecing,  &c.,  and  perhaps  the  Navajoes  may 
have  drawn  this  conclusion. 

This  cherished  question  of  doubt  as  to  whether  "  there  would  result 
a  war"  has  to-day  been  entirely  solved.  It  is  in  haste  that  I  now 
therefore  report,  that  about  three  hundred  Indians  attacked  the  beef 
herd  belonging  to  this  station,  a  few  minutes  after  sunrise  this  morn- 
ing at  its  grazing  camp,  eight  miles  distant  from  the  post  .There  was 
a  guard  of  thirty-two  privates  and  three  non-commissioned  officers 
over  this  herd.  The  attack  was  begun  upon  the  wood-wagon  party, 
which  had  just  turned  out  of  sight  around  the  point  of  a  hill,  about 
400  yards  from  the  corral.  Three  men  of  this  party  were  killed  almost 
immediately — they  fired  but  two  shots  in  defence  ;  being  undoubtedly 
completely  surprised  by  the  Indians  from  behind  the  hill.  It  was  at 
this  point  that  they  awaited  the  herd,  as  it  had  been  driven  in  that 
direction  on  the  previous  morning.  The  six  oxen  hitched  in  this 
wagon  were  captured. 

The  main  attack  on  the  herd  out  grazing  was  promptly  repulsed  by 
a  loss  of  two  Indians,  shot  helpless  from,  their  horses  ;  they  were  car- 
ried away,  however.  Nearly  all  the  guard  being  by  this  time  at  the 
herd,  it  was  advanced  towards  the  Indians  in  order  to  provoke  a  re- 
newal of  the  attack,  but  the  Indians  could  not  be  rallied  again.  The 
herd  was  then  driven  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  camp. 

Huero,  the  Indian  recognized  by  the  treaty  of  December  25,  1858, 
as  the  head  chief,  and  accordingly  named  Huero  Miles,  was  readily 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  31 

recognized  as  the  leader  of  this  attacking  force,  and  Juan,  (known  as 
Navajoe  Jack,)  formerly  the  interpreter  of  this  post,  was  also  seen  as  a 
leader. 

Sergeant  Gahle  of  company  C,  3d  infantry,  having  charge  of  the 
guard,  now  despatched  a  slip  of  paper,  reporting  the  attack  of  the 
post,  by  means  of  a  dog  ;  the  paper  being  tied  to  the  neck,  and  some- 
thing else  to  his  tail. 

The  Navajoes  heing  repulsed  in  this  attack,  they  next  proceeded, 
"before  the  dog  reached  the  post,  up  on  the  mountains,  partly  in  the 
direction  of  the  post,  and  attacked  three  mule  teams  hauling  in  lumher 
logs.  In  this  they  were  completely  successful,  capturing  all  the 
eighteen  mules,  and  wounding  severely  one  of  the  teamsters,  and 
wounding  the  only  escort  man  so  badly  that  he  died  before  he  could 
be  brought  to  the  post  in  a  wagon  sent  for  him.  Two  of  the  mules 
escaped  from  the  Indians  and  returned  to  the  post. 

This  lumber  party  consisted  of  three  mule  teams  and  four  ox  teams, 
with  their  drivers,  and  Sergeant  Zimmer,  of  company  B,  3d  infantry, 
and  twelve  privates.  The  mule  teams  being  loaded  up  first,  were  dis- 
tinctly ordered  by  the  sergeant  to  remain  till  the  other  teams  were 
ready,  but  as  soon  as  they  could  leave  unobserved  by  him,  while  he 
was  engaged  with  the  other  wagons,  they  started  and  took  a  road  not 
expected  by  him.  Previous  to  this  last  attack  only  three  Indians 
were  seen  in  the  mountain,  and  they  took  a  direction,  while  seen,  op- 
posite to  the  post.  One  of  these  three  was  of  the  attacking  party, 
because-  he  left  his  skin  cap  on  the  ground.  The  number  engaged  in 
this  attack  was  not  ascertained;  about  eighty  were  afterwards  seen 
further  in  the  mountains. 

The  error  of  judgment  of  Sergeant  Gable,  in  sending  out  so  small 
a  party  for  wood,  was  to  a  great  degree  redeemed  by  his  good  defence 
of  the  herd,  while  in  fact  surrounded  by  so  large  a  force  of  mounted 
Indians.  The  loss  sustained  by  the  government  is  sixteen  mules,  six 
oxen,  and  four  soldiers  killed,  viz :  Privates  Weber,  of  company  B, 
Kice  and  Gaffy,  co-npany  E,  and  Cogan,  company  G. 

Day  before  yesterday  it  was  reported  by  the  interpreter  of  Mr. 
Kendrick,  Indian  agent,  that  either  this  attack  was  to  be  made,  or  a 
campaign  on  the  Kio  Grande. 

A  reinforcement  of  twelve  men  and  a  non-commissioned  officer  was 
accordingly  sent  after  tattoo  to  the  grazing  camp,  but  a  party  of  five 
men  came  to  the  post  yesterday  from  the  camp  and  reported  no  signs 
except  two  mcocason  tracks,  and  there  being  in  at  the  post  at  the  same 
time  so  many,  apparently  friendly  Indians,  well  known,  the  rumor 
was  placed  on  the  same  footing  as  &  hundred  heretofore  of  a  like 
import. 

Our  Navajoe  interpreter,  Jose,  was  granted  a  leave  of  ten  days, 
about  a  month  since,  but  has  never  returned  or  been  heard  of.  As  he 
has  been  the  only  truthful  man  ever  engaged,  it  is  possible  he  may 
have  been  killed,  as  threatened  last  spring. 

As  for  the  beef  herd  itself,  it  would  have  been  no  great  loss  if  cap- 
tured, as  they  are  all  so  lean  as  scarcely  to  be  eatable  at  all.  ^  There 
is  not  hay  enough  for  the  mules  alone,  and  grass  does  not  spring  up 
in  this  vicinity  until  the  month  of  June. 


32  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

An  impression  has  been  created  by  Colonel  Backus  and  others  that 
this  is  a  fine  grazing  region,  but  nothing  is  more  wide  of  the  truth, 
and  consequently  it  was  more  than  folly  to  send  here  so  large  a  num- 
ber of  lean  beeves  as  was  sent  last  summer.  Besides,  the  issue  of 
such  beef  as  part  of  the  ration,  is  a  sinful  fraud  upon  the  soldier,  and 
the  quantity  ought,  in  all  conscience,  to  be  increased  to  a  pound  and  a 
half  at  least  to  the  ration. 

To-morrow  morning  Lieutenant  Dickinson  will  start  early  with 
forty  men  and  two  non-commissioned  officers  on  the  Albuqurque  road 
to  meet  any  supply  train  which  may  be  en  route,  and  to  reinforce  the 
two  mail  parties  now  absent.  I  shall  not  take  the  field  till  the  return 
of  Lieutenant  Dickinson. 

The  Navajoes  have  patiently  bided  their  time  in  thus  taking  the 
initiative,  in  retaliation  for  the  Tunicha  foray  last  November,  and 
they  have  doubtlessly  well  hidden  their  families  and  herds.  A  short 
delay  on  my  part  may  tend  to  quiet  their  vigilance. 

No  apprehension  may  be  felt  in  regard  to  the  safety  of  the  post,  but 
the  people  along  the  river  ought  to  be  apprised  of  war.  There  is  no 
need  of  sending  any  more  animals  to  the  post  till  the  grass  shows 
signs  of  springing.  Footmen  can  keep  two-thirds  of  the  Navajoe 
country  perfectly  free  from  Indians,  that  is  to  say,  with  an  area  of 
eighty  miles  for  a  radius;  but  the  nights  are  too  cold  just  now  for  us 
to  expect  to  do  much. 

All  trains  ought  properly  to  be  guarded  by  escorts  from  the  river. 
The  duty  of  the  troops  here  will  be  immensely  greater  than  at  any 
other  post.  Lieutenant  Hildt's  return  to  his  company  will  of  course 
be  needed  immediately,  as  also  an  additional  surgeon  for  the  post ; 
one  physician  will  be  required  at  all  times  at  the  post,  and  the  other 
in  the  field  when  a  command  may  sally  forth. 

The  culpable  men  in  the  mule  losses  will  be  brought  for  punishment. 

In  my  next  communication,  next  mail,  I  shall  make  some  remarks  in 
regard  to  command  and  the  mode  of  compaigning.  I  shall  state  why 
my  own  experience  should  not  be  disregarded. 

First  and  foremost,  the  principles  should  be  assumed  at  the  outset 
and  adhered  to  the  end,  that  rank  should  not  gloss  over  disqualifi- 
cation, either  mental  or  physical,  which  may  disincline  the  commander 
himself  to  take  the  field  and  thus  lose  the  knowledge  of  experience. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 
Capt.  3d  Infantry,  and  Bvt.  Maj.  Comd'g  Post. 

Lieut.  J.  D.  WILKINS, 

A.  A.  A.  G.,  Dept.  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 

P.  S. — Half  of  this  command  will  be  discharged  by  the  1st  of  July 
next  by  expiration  of  term  of  enlistment. 

0.  L.  S. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW   MEXICO.  33 


11  b. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  January  27,  1860. 

MAJOR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  com- 
munication of  the  17th  instant. 

The  department  commander  deems  the  present  season  of  the  year 
unfavorable  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  a  campaign,  and  there- 
fore directs  that  you  make  no  expedition  against  the  Navajoes  at  this 
time,  hut  occupy  the  troops  under  your  command  in  keeping  open  the 
communication  with  Albuquerque  and  in  protecting  property  on  the 
road  in  the  vicinity  of  your  post.  He  desires  that  your  command  be 
put  in  as  high  a  state  of  efficiency  as  possible  by  spring,  and  that  they 
be  fully  prepared  for  campaign  service. 

You  will  keep  the  department  commander  constantly  advised  as  to 
the  state  of  affairs  with  the  Indians,  and  should  you  deem  a  reinforce- 
ment at  any  time  necessary,  give  early  information. 

The  department  commander  perceives  that  you  have  taken  advan- 
tage of  your  official  report  to  animadvert  on  other  officers,  and  he 
directs  that  in  future  you  will  confine  your  remarks  to  the  subject- 
matter  of  your  communication. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
~Lst  Lieutenant  3d  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Brevet  Major  C.  L.  SHEPHERD,  U.  S.  A., 

Commander  Fort  Defiance,  New  Mexico. 


12.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  February  10,  1860. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  enclose  the  report  of  Brevet 
Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  V.  D.  Reeve,  captain  8th  infantry,  marked 
u  A/'  of  a  second  scout  or  expedition  against  the  Final  Indians. 

In  this  report  he  has  used  language  in  the  highest  degree  disre- 
spectful to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  department,  insubordinate 
in  its  character,  and  deserving  official  notice.  I  therefore  request  that 
this  officer  may  be  immediately  ordered  back  to  his  post,  in  order  that 
proper  steps  may  be  instituted  for  that  purpose. 

Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Reeve  received  a  leave  of  absence  from 
these  headquarters  immediately  after  his  first  report,  and  left  the  de- 
partment before  his  second  reached  its  destination. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
Colonel  1st  Dragoons,  Commanding  Department. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  L.  THOMAS,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen'l, 

Head  Quarters  of  the  Army,  New  York  City. 

H.  Ex.  Doc.  69 3 


34  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW  MEXICO. 


12  a. 

FORT  BUCHANAN,  NEW  MEXICO, 

January  3,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  have  this  day  returned  from  an  expedition  of  twenty-one  days 
against  the  Final  Indians,  in  continuation  of  the  campaign  ordered 
against  them.  I  find  here  on  my  return  your  communication  of  the 
llth  ultimo,  in  which  the  colonel  commanding  has  directed  you  to 
state  that  the  campaign  has  been  an  "  entire  and  utter  failure/'  and 
his  deep  mortification  thereat. 

Before  making  the  comments  which  I  intend  upon  this  letter,  I  will 
state  what  has  been  done  since  my  report  of  the  27th  of  November  last. 

For  information  as  to  the  movements  of  a  part  of  the  command  under 
Captain  Elliot,  rifles,  I  enclose  you  herewith  his  report  to  me.  Com- 
panies D  and  G,  1st  dragoons,  and  a  detachment  of  company  C, 
rifles,  under  my  command,  in  all  one  hundred  and  ten  men  and  five 
officers,  including  Assistant  Surgeon  McKee,  made  an  expedition  to 
the  Final  mountains,  leaving  this  post  on  the  14th  ultimo.  The  re- 
sult of  this  expedition  was :  eight  Indians  killed,  one  wounded,  and 
twenty-three  prisoners  ;  all  but  one  of  the  latter  being  women  and 
children,  six  of  them  were  left  in  the  mountains,  being  either  old  and 
decrepit,  or  to  oyoung  to  bring  with  us,  as  they  would  have  proved  but 
a  useless  burden.  Two  horses  and  one  mule  were  captured.  One 
prisoner  escaped  during  our  homeward  march.  On  our  part  there 
were  no  casualties  except  one,  Captain  Ewell  slightly  wounded  in  the 
hand.  This  skirmish  occurred  the  25th  of  December.  The  distance 
marched  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  Our  loss  in  animals  from 
cold,  fatigue,  and  starvation,  was  three  horses  and  four  mules  of  com- 
pany D,  1st  dragoons.  Particulars  of  the  march,  relating  to  snows  and 
other  obstacles,  I  will  not  state,  as  I  presume  they  will  possess  no  in- 
terest. The  campaign,  then,  has  consisted  of  two  scouts,  the  first  of 
fifteen  days,  and  the  second  of  twenty  ;  and  the  result  twelve  Indians 
killed,  (counted,)  eleven  (known  to  be)  wounded,  (and  probably  more,) 
forty-six  taken  prisoners,  one  hundred  and  eleven  head  of  horses  and 
cattle  captured,  together  with  four  guns  and  numerous  bows  and  ar- 
rows, and  other  property  to  them  of  much  value. 

I  have  now  to  state  that  I  think  the  colonel  commanding  has  been 
hasty  in  declaring  the  campaign  to  be  an  "  entire  and  utter  failure," 
for  he  had  but  the  work  of  fifteen  days  upon  which  to  base  such  decla- 
ration, and  was  at  the  same  time  informed  that  another  expedition 
would  be  made  from  this  post  after  the  animals  had  been  rested  and  re- 
cruited for  a  few  days.  The  responsibility  for  the  "  want  of  prepara- 
tion and  efficiency  of  the  troops"  does  not  fall  upon  my  portion  of  the 
command  ;  without  my  being  consulted  in  the  slightest  particular,  the 
"preparations"  for  the  campaign  were  made  at  department  head- 
quarters. The  depot  selected,  to  be  on  the  San  Pedro,  near  the  mail 
station.  The  pack  animals  assigned,  one  for  every  three  men,  ten  extra 
mules  assigned  for  the  troops  to  go  from  this  post,  lest  they  should  be 
short  of  transportation  ;  and  I  was  required  to  place  supplies  in 
depot  "  for  the  probable  duration  of  the  campaign' '  with  the  teams  of 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  35 

the  post,  only  Jive  in  number,  after  which  to  use  a  part  of  the  mules  for 
packing.  The  only  expense  authorized  was  the  hire  of  "  three  or  four 
guides/'  but  not  a  single  packer,  or  herdman  for  driving  a  few  beef 
cattle,  was  allowed.  I  was  not  in  all  this  allowed  as  much  discretion 
as  is  usually  given  to  a  corporal  in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  save 
to  make  or  not  an  expedition  against  the  Chiricahui  Indians  when 
the  Pinalenos  were  subdued.  The  command  from  the  Bio  Grande  were 
required  to  pack  twenty  days'  provision  on  their  mules,  with  extra 
horse  shoes  and  nails,  but  no  means  were  furnished  them  of  bringing 
an  article  of  extra  clothing  to  supply  them  during  a  winter  campaign. 
All  instructions  furnished  me  were  literally  followed  until  found  inap- 
plicable and  impracticable.  The  animals  from  the  Rio  Grande  arrived 
in  the  condition  I  have  stated  in  a  former  report.  Not  one  of  the  ten 
mules  sent  for  the  troops  at  this  post  was  applied  to  their  service  ;  and 
all  the  companies  took  the  field  with  a  less  number  of  mules  than  one 
to  every  three  men.  There  were  two  wagons  at  Fort  Bliss  and  seven 
at  Fort  Fillmore  left  without  mules  ;  and  had  they  been  used  with  the 
same  mules  which  were  packed,  all  the  animals,  both  mules  and 
horses,  would  have  arrived  at  the  San  Pedro  in  a  fit  condition,  com- 
paratively, for  any  service.  I  assert,  and  without  fear  of  contradiction, 
that  in  the  campaigns  in  New  Mexico,  from  1854  to  the  present  time, 
with  the  same  number  of  men,  the  same  short  time,  the  same  limited 
means,  small  expense,  and  small  losses,  and  the  same  unfavorable  sea- 
son, there  has  never  been  any  more,  even  if  as  much,  accomplished,  as 
has  been  done  by  the  troops  under  my  command  during  the  Final  cam- 
paign. Had  I  taken  upon  myself  the  responsibility  of  not  starting 
"  from  the  depot  in  the  condition  represented,"  I  should  have  expected 
that  such  an  assumption  would  have  cost  me  my  commision,  inasmuch 
as  dispensing  with  the  campaign  would  have  been  a  flagrant  disobe- 
dience of  orders.  "  If  the  success  of  the  campaign"  was  deemed  of  the 
greatest  importance,  the  means  for  carrying  it  on  should  have  been 
commensurate  with  that  importance.  There  was  no  lack  of  volunteers, 
guides,  spies,  and  employees  in  the  Mescalero  campaigns  of  1854  and 
'55,  nor  in  Gila  campaign  of  1857,  nor  in  the  Navajoe  compaign 
of  .858;  no  lack  of  hired  trains  for  transporting  supplies  of  all 
kinds  on  those  occasions,  as  they  were  undoubtedly  deemed  of  "  im- 
portance." Yet  here  where  there  are  but  five  or  six  mule  trains 
and  wagons  to  supply  the  post  with  wood  and  water,  to  supply  the  de- 
pot sixty  miles  distant,  and  then  to  take  even  a  part  of  these  mules  for 
packing  during  scouts,  and  that  too  at  a  season  of  the  year  when  grass 
is  winter-killed,  and  corn  becomes  indispensable  to  sustain  animals  in 
a  condition  for  service,  is  allowing,  according  to  my  experience,  very 
inadequate  means  to  the  success  of  an  important  campaign.  I  assert 
that  the  campaign  has  not  been  a  failure,  and  that  undue  haste  and 
consequent  injustice  to  the  troops  engaged  in  it,  is  mani Tested  in  any 
assertion  to  the  contrary.  Even  if  the  Indians  had  received  no  pun- 
ishment, yet  some  compensation  has  been  gained  in  the  knowledge  of 
a  country  heretofore  almost  unknown,  save  to  two  or  three  Mexicans 
who  have  been  captives  among  the  Pinalenos. 

I  have  but  to  say  further,  that  the  exposures  to  cold,  mud,  rain,  and 
snow,  and  the  excessive  fatigues  of  marching  over  an  exceedingly  rough 


36  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

country,  have  been  borne  by  the  troops  with  cheerfulness,  and  their 
duties  done  with  alacrity.  The  troops  from  the  Rio  Grande  will  be 
ordered  to  their  stations  as  soon  as  their  animals  are  somewhat  rested 
and  fitted  for  the  march. 

I  am,  sir.  yours,  respectfully, 

J.  D.  V.  REEVE, 

Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  United  States  Army, 
Commanding  campaign  against  the  Pinalenos. 

Lieutenant  J.  D.  WILKINS, 
Acting  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  Sante  Fe,  N.  M. 


13.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT,  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  February  19,  1860. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General-in-chief,  copies  of  reports  of  the  commanding 
officers  of  Fort  Craig,  which  will,  to  some  extent,  show  the  state  of 
things  in  this  department  with  regard  to  the  Navajoes,  and  what  is 
being  done  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier.  I  also  enclose  a  copy  of 
my  general  orders  No.  2,  which  will  exhibit  the  steps  instituted  with 
reference  to  an  early  Navajoe  campaign. 

I  conceive  it  proper,  also,  to  mention  that  I  have  received  from  El 
Paso,  accounts  going  to  show  that  the  Mexicans  are  likely  to  enact  on 
that  border  scenes  similar  to  those  at  Brownsville.  1  consider  it 
very  important  that  that  point  should  be  strengthened  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, especially  as  I  shall  have  to  use  the  greater  part  of  the  troops 
on  that  quarter  in  the  Navajoe  country. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

THOS.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

Colonel  1st  Dragoons. 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 
Ass't  Adj't  General ,  Headquarters  of  the  Army. 


13  a. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  CRAIG, 

New  Mexico j  February  7,  1860. 

SIR  :  Colonel  Porter,  before  leaving  here  this  morning,  directed  me 
to  make  a  detailed  report  of  occurrences  in  the  vicinity  of  this  post 
within  the  past  week,  and  the  operations  of  the  troops  stationed  here. 

On  Thursday  evening  last,  at  dusk,  a  Mexican  named  Contreras 
brought  the  report  to  this  post,  that  on  the  Tuesday  previous  some 
twelve  thousand  sheep  and  four  boys  had  been  captured  by  the  Nav- 
ajoes opposite  and  near  Los  Lanas,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  He 
said  they  were  coming  down  the  country,  apparently  intending  to  cross 
the  river  at  a  pass  opposite  the  Ojo  del  Muerto.  He  had  been  upon 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  37 

the  trail,  and  had  left  it  thirty  miles  to  the  northeast  of  here.  His 
son  was  one  of  the  hoys  captured. 

I  was  immediately  dispatched,  with  forty  men  and  three  days'  pro- 
vision, to  endeavor  to  intercept  them.  Sefior  Contreras  accompanied 
me. 

On  Tuesday  morning  Colonel  Porter,  receiving  a  note  from  me  in- 
forming him  that  the  Indians  had  given  me  the  slip,  and  were  still 
pursuing  the  same  route,  sent  company  "T,"  Captain  McLane  and 
Lieutenant  Cressey,  with  three  days'  provisions,  down  the  river  on  this 
hank  to  intercept  the  Indians  opposite  the  Ojo  del  Muerto,  or  such  a 
point  as  he  might  learn  they  would  cross.  At  twelve  o'clock  on 
Monday,  Sergeant  Sunday,  with  twelve  men,  was  sent  to  reinforce 
Captain  McLane,  and  take  him  three  hundred  rations.  At  3  o'clock 
a.  m.,  this  Tuesday  morning,  information  was  received  here  that  the 
Indians  had  driven  off  about  five  thousand  sheep  from  Perago,  nine 
miles  below  here.  First  Sergeant  McQuaide,  with  fifteen  men,  was 
sent  immediately  to  take  the  trail  and  pursue  them.  At  the  same  time 
an  express  from  Sergeant  Sunday  gave  information  that  the  Navajoes 
had  crossed  the  river  at  the  Ojo  del  Muerto,  on  Monday  at  noon. 
Captain  McLane  passed  down  the  river  the  night  before  under  false 
information  that  they  were  intending  to  cross  at  a  pass  below. 

Colonel  Porter  and  Assistant  Sergeant  Perin,  with  every  available 
man  of  the  command,  left  here  at  nine  a.  mv  this  morning,  taking  a 
northwest  course,  hoping  to  intercept  the  Navajoes  at  a  pass  in  the 
mountains  about  sixty  miles  from  here. 

At  twelve  m.  to  day,  a  Mexican  arrived  with  information  that  early 
this  morning  seventy  head  of  oxen  were  taken  by  the  Indians  from  a 
point  seven  miles  from  here  in  a  westerly  direction.  They  have 
taken  a  course  which  will  undoubtley  bring  Colonel  Porter  on  their 
trail.  The  whole  appears  to  be  a  combined  movement ;  the  depreda- 
tions committed  last  night  being  intended  to  draw  off  the  troops  from 
the  pursuit  of  the  main  body.  It  is  now  pretty  well  ascertained  that 
the  Indians  number  considerably  over  one  hundred,  and  it  is  reported 
that  they  crossed  the  river  in  the  face  of  quite  a  large  party  of  Mexi- 
icans  assembled  to  oppose  them. 

Nine  o'clock  p.  m.  Don  Manuel  Chaves  came  into  the  post  this 
evening  with  seven  Mexicans  ;  he  is  directed  from  Captain  McLane's 
camp  at  the  Canada  de  la  Mosa.  By  him,  Captain  McLane  writes 
that  his  horses  are  completely  broken  down,  and  that  he  is  unable  to 
pursue  the  Indians.  Don  Manuel,  who  has  in  his  party  a  guide  per- 
fectly well  acquainted  with  this  country,  having  been  furnished  by  me 
with  fresh  animals  and  provisions,  left  immediately  to  overtake  Colo- 
nel Porter.  There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  Colonel  Porter  will 
intercept  the  Navajoes  at  a  point  about  ninety  miles  west  of  here. 
Information  has  been  received  that  First  Sergeant  McQuaide  was  in 
close  pursuit  of  the  Indians  who  last  night  took  the  herd  from  Perago, 
and  has  probably  before  this  taken  the  sheep  from  them.  Three 
thousand  of  the  sheep  with  the  main  body  of  the  Indians  were  left  by 
them  at  the  crossing  of  the  river ;  three  thousand  more  were  aban- 
doned on  the  Jornada,  and  taken  possession  of  by  Mexicans.  At  last 
advices  they  still  had  about  eight  thousand  with  them. 


38  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

February  8,  1860,  eight  o'clock  a,  m.     Nothing  further  heard  from 
the  parties  out. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  HATCH, 
Brevet  Captain  U.  S.  A.  Com.  Post. 

Lieutenant  JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 

Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 

Headquarters,  Department  of  New  Mexico. 


13  b. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  CRAIG, 

New  Mexico,  February  11,  1860. 

SIR:  Up  to  eight  o'clock  a.  m.  of  the  8th  instant,  Captain  Hatch 
reported  to  the  headquarters  of  the  department  the  movements,  &c., 
of  the  troops  of  this  garrison.  I  have  now  the  honor  to  state  in  brief 
the  result  of  their  operations,  deferring  until  the  reports  are  regularly 
made  out  by  those  in  command  of  the  separate  detachment,  a  more 
detailed  account. 

1st.  First  Sergeant  Hugh  McQuaide,  of  company  "  F,"  regiment 
mounted  riflemen,  returned  with  his  command  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  on 
the  9th  instant.  He  had  overtaken  the  Indians  about  eighty  miles 
from  this  post,  killed  one  of  them,  and  captured  1,500  sheep. 

2d.  News  arrived  on  the  9th,  at  noon,  that  Captain  Chavis,  who, 
with  seven  Mexicans,  had  left  this  post  on  the  8th,  to  aid  and  guide 
the  detachment  with  Colonel  Porter,  had  met  a  large  party  of  Indians, 
who  had  killed  two  of  his  men,  and  wounded  three  others,  and  asked 
for  assistance.  Sergeant  McQuaide  and  twelve  men,  company  F,  re- 
giment mounted  riflmen,  were  sent  at  dark  to  their  relief;  he  returned 
during  the  night,  it  being  too  dark  for  him  to  proceed.  Lance  Cor- 
poral Price  and  eight  men,  company  F,  regiment  mounted  riflemen, 
were  sent  next  morning  at  reveille  for  the  same  purpose,  and  returned 
at  four  p.  m.,  bringing  in  Captain  Chavis' s  party.  (They  are  now  in 
hospital  at  this  post.) 

Captain  McLane  with  his  company,  "  T,"  regiment  mounted  rifle- 
men, returned  on  the  morning  of  the  10th.  He  had  met  a  party  of 
Indians  at  the  crossing  of  the  Rio  Grande,  near  the  Canada  Alamosa; 
killed  fifteen  of  them,  captured  six  thousand  (6,000)  sheep,  ninety-four 
beeves,  nine  horses,  and  two  burros. 

4th.  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Porter,  with  his  command,  returned 
at  one  o'clock  this  morning  ;  they  had  engaged  a  party  of  Indians,  at 
a  point  ninety  miles  west  from  here,  (the  Sierra  Los  Eros,)  killed  and 
wounded  sixteen  of  them  ;  captured  two  horses,  420  sheep,  and  three 
beeves. 

In  addition  to  the  animals  directly  captured  by  the  troops,  by  the 
indirect  influence  and  presence  in  the  vicinity  of  the  river,  by  the 
troops  under  command  of  Captain  McLane,  the  Indians  were  forced 
to  abandon  some  seven  thousand  sheep,  which  were  taken  by  the 
Mexicans. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  39 

Among  the  sheep  captured  by  the  troops,  were  some  believed  to  have 
been  stolen  from  Anton  Chico,  or  Jemes.  Nearly  all  the  sheep  taken 
are  in  charge  of  Mexicans  in  this  neighborhood. 

The  order  for  the  movement  of  Captain  McLane's  company  has 
been  received.  I  will  detain  it  until  the  15th  at  this  post,  when  it 
will  leave  for  Albuquerque  ;  its  services  may  be  necessary  here  for  a 
few  days  to  come.  I  would  respectfully,  but  urgently,  request  that 
the  company  which  is  to  replace  Captain  McLane's,  be  sent  here  be- 
fore the  next  moon,  as  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Indians  will 
continue  to  be  troublesome  for  some  time  to  come. 

There  being  no  subaltern  for  duty  at  this  post  after  Captain  T.  shall 
have  left,  I  will  retain  Brevet  Captain  Hatch,  acting  assistant  com- 
missary of  subsistence  and  acting  assistant  quartermaster,  for  the 
present. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  PORTER, 
Bvt.  Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  com' g  post. 

Lieut.  JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 

A.  Asst.  Adj.  Gen.  head'qrs  dept.  of  N.  M.y  Santa  Fe. 


13  c. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  February  18,  1860. 
[General  Orders,  No.  2.J 

I.  The  following  commands  will  be  organized,  fully  equipped,  and 
held  in  readiness  to  take  the  field. 

1st.  Companies  "  B,"  (Claiborne's,)  an(i  "  D,"  (Jones's)  regiment  of 
mounted  riflemen  ;  two  officers  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  enlisted 
men  from  the  post  of  Los  Lunas,  Major  C.  C.  Libley,  3d  infantry,  in 
command. 

2d.  Companies"  A,"  (Eliott's,)  «F/'  (Porter's,)  and"K,"  (Walk- 
er's,) regiment  of  mounted  riflemen,  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  A. 
Porter,  United  States  army,  in  command. 

3d.  Companies  "B,"  (Duncan's,)  and  u  G-,"  (Morris's,)  regiment  of 
mounted  rifles,  Capt.  Thomas  Duncan,  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen, 
in  command. 

4th.  One  hundred  and  fifty  enlisted  men,  3d  infantry,  with  a  due 
proportion  of  officers  from  Fort  Defiance;  Brevet  Major  0.  L.  Shepherd, 
3d  infantry,  in  command. 

5th.  Companies  "  H,"  (Lindsay's,)  and  "  T/'  (McLane's,)  regiment 
of  mounted  riflemen  to  accompany  department  headquarters. 

II.  The  effective  mounted  men  of  the  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen 
will  only  be  taken. 

III.  To  each  command  there  will  be  assigned  a  due  proportion  of 
spies  and  guards. 

IV.  The  commands  registered  above  will  receive  special  instruc- 
tions from   headquarters.     The  quartermaster's  and  subsistence  de- 


40  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

partments  are  hereby  directed  to  furnish  the  necessary  transportation 
and  supplies. 

By  order  of  Colonel  T.  T.  Fauntleroy : 

JOHN  D.  WILKINS, 
First  Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  Asst.  Adj.  Gen. 


14.  The  Adjutant  General  to  Colonel  Fauntleroy. 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 
Washington,  February  25, 1860. 

COLONEL  :  It  appears  from  your  requisition  that  you  contemplate 
calling  volunteers  into  service  for  the  purpose  of  making  war  upon  the 
Navajoes  next  summer. 

I  am  therefore  instructed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  inform  you 
that  the  appropriations  for  the  army  will  not  admit  of  such  extraor- 
dinary expenditures  as  would  necessarily  attend  the  raising  of  volun- 
teers, and  that  a  considerable  portion  of  your  mounted  troops  will  be 
required  for  this  service. 

I  am  further  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  say  that  it  is 
designed  to  increase  the  military  force  in  the  Navajoe  country,  and 
other  parts  of  New  Mexico,  and  that  the  presence  of  your  effective 
force,  combined  with  a  just  but  firm  policy  towards  the  Navajoes,  will, 
it  is  expected,  render  anything  like  general  hostilities  against  that 
tribe  unnecessary. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  ob't  ser'vt, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Col.  T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
First  Dragoons,  com'g  dep't  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 


15.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  March  4,  1860. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  for  the  information  of  the 
Lieutenant  General  commanding  the  army  : 

"  A."  Report  of  Second  Lieutenant  Wm.  Dickinson,  3d  infantry, 
of  attack  made  by  the  Navajoes,  while  escorting  a  government  train. 
"  B."  Copy  of  report  of  Brevet  Major  0.  It.  Shepherd,  United  States 
army,  of  attack  made  by  Navajoes  on  the  government  cattle  herd. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

TH.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 
Col.  1st  Dragoons,  commanding  department. 
Lieut.  Col.  L.  THOMAS, 

Asst.  Adj.  Gen.  Head'qrs  of  the  Army,  N.  Y.  City. 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  41 


15  n. 

FORT  DEFIANCE,  NEW  MEXICO, 

January  23,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  obedience  to  post  orders 
No.  4  of  January  17,  1860,  I  left  this  post  January  18,  in  command 
of  a  detachment  of  two  men,  nor  commissioned  officers,  and  forty 
privates,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  and  escorting  to  this  post  any 
trains  that  might  be  en  route,  and  also  to  reinforce  the  two  mail  par- 
ties absent  from  here. 

Near  the  close  of  our  first  day's  march  my  advance  guard  of  eight 
men  under  Corporal  Edgar,  of  company  B,  3d  infantry,  captured 
three  mounted  Navajoes,  five  beeves,  five  loose  horses,  aside  from 
those  ridden  by  the  prisoners,  and  about  fifteen  sheep.  I  found  my 
march  so  encumbered  by  those  animals  that  I  felt  forced  to  have  them 
shot,  (except  the  sheep,)  part  of  which  we  used,  and  let  the  rest  go, 
which  was  done  by  my  order  that  evening 

Meantime  the  Indian  prisoners,  who  had  been  dismounted  for  the 
purpose  of  using  their  horses  in  driving  the  other  captured  animals, 
had  been  embarrassing  the  march  of  the  rear  guard,  and  caused  them 
to  open  out  some  distance  ;  at  this  time  they  were  attacked  by  a 
mounted  force  of  about  thirty  Indians,  accompanied  by  five  saddled 
horses  without  riders.  A  sharp  firing  was  sustained  for  some  minutes 
by  the  guard,  the  Indians  using  their  rifles  and  arrows.  Two  Indians 
were  shot  from  their  horses,  and  it  is  believed  that  one  of  them  was 
killed.  Their  comrades  swung  them  on  to  their  horses  and  carried 
them  off.  Some  of  their  horses  were  wounded. 

On  the  20th  I  reached  Bacon  Spring  Pond,  where  I  was  joined  by 
a  quartermaster  supply  train  of  seventeen  wagons,  escorted  by  Corpo- 
ral Fitzpatrick  of  eight  men  of  company  F,  3d  infantry,  The  whole 
country  from  the  eighteen-mile  pond  to  this  point  was  alive  with 
Indians  and  herds.  I  was  anxious  to  be  as  unencumbered  as  possible, 
since  I  had  to  return  in  escort  to  a  valuable  train  through  the  worst 
part  of  the  Navajoe  country,  and  I  determined  therefore  to  send  the 
three  prisoners  on  to  Albuquerque  in  charge  of  Corporal  Edgar,  with 
twelve  privates  and  a  teamster.  I  despatched  this  party  on  their  way 
early  that  afternoon. 

Nothing  occurred  on  our  return  march  until  about  11  o'clock  a.  m. 
of  the  22d,  when  at  the  sixteen-mile  pond,  when  a  fire  was  opened  on 
us  from  the  woods  to  the  left,  and  private  Geissler,  company  B,  3d 
infantry,  was  shot  through  the  arm.  The  train  was  packed,  and, 
after  a  brief  consultation  with  the  wagon-master,  I  determined  to 
push  on  for  this  post.  A  force  of  about  fifty  or  sixty  mounted  Indians 
hung  upon  our  march  and  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  upon  us.  No  further 
damage  was  sustained,  however,  except  the  receipt  of  about  a  dozen 
shots  in  the  wagons.  The  enemy  seemed  to  use  nothing  but  rifles 
this  day.  I  threw  out  a  skirmishing  party  of  eleven  privates,  under 
Corporal  Fitzpatrick  of  company  F,  3d  infantry,  to  cover  our  ad- 
vance, deploying  them  right  and  left  to  clear  the  woods  and  occupy 
heights.  Also  a  like  party  under  Sergeant  Speakheart,  of  company 


42  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

E,  3d  infantry,  to  cover  the  rear  of  the  train.  The  rest  of  the  com- 
mand I  distributed  from  front  to  rear  on  both  sides  of  the  train.  The 
most  serious  attack  and  the  hottest  fire  experienced  during  the  day 
was  .about  four  miles  this  side  of  eighteen-mile  pond,  where  a  very 
considerable  force  of  Indians  sustained  a  fire  upon  us  from  the  woods 
for  many  minutes.  It  required  much  exertion  and  a  rapid  fire  from 
us  to  dislodge  them.  One  Indian  was  killed.  They  continued  to 
annoy  our  march  all  day,  and  kept  up  a  dropping  fire  on  us  until  we 
reached  within  half  a  mile  of  the  rocks  known  as  the  haystacks,  about 
six  miles  from  this  port. 

The  entire  command  behaved  most  admirably,  and  fought  zealously. 
I  wish  to  mention  the  good  conduct  of  Sergeant  Speakheart,  of  com- 
pany E,  3d  infantry,  while  in  charge  of  the  rear  guard,  and  of  Corpo- 
ral Fitzpatrick,  of  company  F,  3d  infantry,  in  charge  of  the  advance 
guard  of  skirmishers.  Nothing  could  exceed  their  coolness,  and  the 
truly  handsome  manner  in  which  they  executed  the  difficult  duties 
entrusted  to  them.  Corporal  Edgar  of  company  B,  3d  infantry,  is 
also  deserving  of  much  praise  for  the  readiness  and  skill  with  which 
he  surrounded  with  his  guard,  and  surprised  and  captured  the  party 
of  Indians  on  our  first  day's  march. 

The  command  and  train  reached  here  at  dark  on  the  22d. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

,W.  DICKINSON, 
2d  Lieut.,  3d  Infantry,  Commanding  Detachment. 

Bt.  Maj.  0.  L.  SHEPHERD,  3rd  Infantry, 

Commanding  Fort  Defiance,  Neiv  Mexico. 


15  b. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  DEFIANCE, 
New  Mexico,  February  14,  18oO. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  report  that  no  Indians  in  any  number  have 
shown  themselves  since  the  23d  ultimo,  either  around  the  post,  to  the 
working  parties,  or  cattle  guard,  till  the  7th  instant,  wlien  they 
showed  a  white  flag  to  the  guard  over  the  beef  cattle,  under  Sergeant 
Werner,  company  "C,"  third  infantry,  about  seven  miles  distant 
from  the  post,  at  a  grazing  camp  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains. 
This  was  done  evidently  to  decoy  some  men  of  the  guard  out  into  an 
ambuscade.  Being  apprised  of  this  at  night,  I  reinforced  the  guard 
by  ten  men,  with  orders  to  fire  upon  all  Indians  hovering  within  shot. 
The  guard  then  consisted  of  forty-one  (41)  privates  and  three  (3)  non- 
commissioned officers. 

The  following  morning  a  strong  attack  on  three  sides  was  made  by 
a  force  of  Navajoes,  numbering,  according  to  the  uniform  account, 
more  than  five  hundred,  half  of  this  number  being  on  foot  and  the 
other  half  mounted.  The  attack  was  begun  about  half  an  hour  after 
sunrise,  and  continued  for  two  hours  or  more. 

After  the  first  attack  was  bravely  repulsed  and  the  cattle  driven 
within  the  corral,  the  men  of  the  guard  gave  cheers,  whereupon  the 
Indians  became  infuriated  and  renewed  the  firing  from  the  adjoining 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  43 

woods  at  long  range,  but  without  doing  damage.  At  the  beginning 
a  portion  of  the  Navajoes  got  partially  between  the  herd  of  cattle  and 
the  camp,  and  another  force  was  firing  at  the  guard  of  fifteen  (15) 
men,  under  Corporal  Bailey,  company  "  G,"  third  infantry,  from  the 
opposite  side  of  the  cattle. 

Fortunately,  at  sunrise  an  advanced  guard  of  ten  men  under  Cor- 
poral Ell  wood,  company  "  B,"  third  infantry,  had  gone  out  and  got 
posted  half  a  mile  in  advance  in  the  woods  ;  this  advance  guard,  after 
being  driven  back  to  the  woods  twice,  now  succeeded  in  effecting  a 
junction  with  the  herd  guard.  This  guard,  being  now  twenty-seven 
(27)  strong,  commenced  a  slow  retreat  to  the  camp,  about  half  a  mile 
distant,  first  dislodging  the  Indians  in  the  narrow  strip  of  woods  be- 
tween the  herd  and  the  camp.  The  camp  itself  was,  in  the  mean- 
while, defended  from  the  side  of  the  canon  by  Sergeant  Werner  and 
seventeen  (17)  men. 

For  about  an  hour  after  all  the  cattle  were  safely  corralled  the  firing 
was  scattering  at  long  distance.  The  Navajoes  probably  discovered  by 
this  time  the  approach  from  the  garrison  of  Corporal  Healy,  company 
<rB,"  and  eleven  privates,  sent  out  beforehand  with  a  howitzer,  as  a 
precautionary  measure,  to  signal  the  garrison  in  case  of  an  attack, 
when  they  fled  in  every  direction,  and  it  was  in  their  flight  that  their 
numbers  were  more  clearly  discovered. 

Huero,  who  headed  the  attack  on  the  cattle  camp  at  the  Amaria, 
on  the  17th,  was  again  distinctly  recognized  ;  no  other  head-man  was 
recognized  ;  Juan,  known  as  Navajoe  Jack,  and  formerly  interpreter 
at  the  post,  was  not  seen  ;  not  more  than  two  or  three  Indians  have 
been  seen  since  around  the  camp. 

By  the  nearest  approximation  ten  Indians  were  shot  helpless,  but 
were  carried  away,  and  about  double  that  number  were  wounded  ;  as 
many  horses  were  seen  running  riderless,  and  several  foot  Indians 
were  shot  down. 

There  were  none  of  the  guard  injured,  other  than  private  Agnew, 
of  company  "  G,"  third  infantry,  who  was  wounded  slightly  through 
the  hand. 

A  post  order  relative  to  the  affair  is  respectfully  enclosed. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 
Capt.  Third  Infantry  and  Bt.  Major,  Comdg.  Post. 

Lieut.  J.  D.  WILKINS, 

Acting  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.,  Dep't.  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 


15  c. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  DEFIANCE, 

New  Mexico,  February  12,  1860. 
[Orders,  No.  19.] 

The  conflict  at  the  grazing  camp,  on  the  8th  instant,  between  the 
cattle  guard  from  this  post,  consisting  of  Sergeant  Werner,  company 
"  C,  "  Corporal  Bailey,  company  "  5,"  and  Corporal  Ell  wood,  com- 


44  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

pany  "13,"  and  forty-one  (41)  privates,  namely:  privates  Kyan, 
Brutche,  Deveny,  Martilius,  Myers,  McCarty,  MeGuire,  McNeal, 
Stewart,  Brown,  and  Smith,  of  company  "  B,"  third  infantry;  pri- 
vates Grent,  Holden,  Knopssnaker,  Mank,  McAvoy,  McNamara, 
Morris,  Remfrey,  Fitzpatrick,  Minogue,  Rucher,  McGarry,  Finne- 
gan,  and  William  Welch,  of  company  "  0,"  third  infantry  ;  privates 
Albert,  Goodwin,  and  Miller,  of  company  "E,"  third  infantry  ;  pri- 
vates Agnew,  Collan,  Dewall,  Galetzky,  Lenny,  Marony,  Melville, 
Morris,,  Stokes,  Bracken,  Ingram,  Michael  Fitzgerald,  and  James 
O'Conner,  company  u  G,"  third  infantry;  and  a  powerful  force  of 
Navajoe  Indians,  numbering  five  hundred  or  more,  who  fought  for 
over  two  hours,  is  highly  deserving  in  its  conduct  and  its  issue,  hav- 
ing killed  about  ten  and  wounded  twice  as  many  more  of  the  enemy. 

This  party,  which  had  not  a  flinching  man  in  it,  may  truly  indulge 
the  exultant  feelings  which  have  animated  the  hearts  of  victors  in 
combats  that  have  had  the  fortune  to  be  inscribed  upon  national 
records. 

The  consciousness  of  this  brave  performance  of  duty  must  brighten 
the  hearts  of  these  men  at  every  mention  and  remembrance  of  it  here- 
after, and  at  the  relation  or  record  by  others  of  like  past  perils. 

Better  praises  from  higher  sourqes  are  deserved  and  may  be  antici- 
pated. 

0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 
Capt.  Third  Infantry  and  Bt.  Major,  Comdg.  Post. 


16.  General  Scott  to  Colonel  Fauntleroy. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

New  York,  March  29,  1860. 

SIR  :  Your  letter  of  February  10,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  report  of 
Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Reeve,  eighth  infantry,  of  a  second  expe- 
dition against  the  Final  Apaches,  has  been  received. 

The  report  you  regard  as  highly  disrespectful  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  department,  insubordinate  in  its  character,  and  deserving 
official  notice  ;  and  you  request  that  the  officer  may  be  ordered  back 
to  his  post,  in  order  that  proper  steps  may  be  instituted  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

The  General-in-chief  directs  me  to  say  that,  as  you  wish  the  case 
investigated,  as  you  could  not  order  a  general  court  martial  for  his 
trial,  as  you  would  be  the  accuser,  it  would  be  proper  for  you  to  sub- 
mit charges  for  the  consideration  of  the  President.  Your  communi- 
cation has  been  forwarded  to  the  adjutant  general,  with  a  copy  of  this 
letter. 

I  am.  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  THOMAS, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Col.  T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

First  Dragoons,  Comdg.  Dept.  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES  IN   NEW  MEXICO.  45 

PAPERS  COMMUNICATED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR. 

Mr.  Thompson  to  Mr.  Floyd. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR,  April  6,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  26th  ultimo,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  resolution  adopted  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  on  the  20th  ultimo,  calling  for  information 
on  the  subject  of  Indian  hostilities  in  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico, 
and  to  enclose  herewith  copies  of  all  the  papers  on  file  in  the  Indian 
office  embraced  by  the  terms  of  the  resolution,  with  a  copy  of  the  let- 
ter of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  transmitting  the  same  to 
this  department. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  THOMPSON,  Secretary. 
Hon.  JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 

Secretary  of  War. 


Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  April  4,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  return  the  letter  of  the  Secreta- 
ry of  War  of  the  26th  ultimo,  enclosing  a  resolution  adopted  by  the 
House  of  Representatives  on  the  20th  ultimo,  calling  for  information 
on  the  subject  of  Indian  hostilities  in  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico, 
which  was  referred  by  the  President  to  the  War  Department  for  an 
answer,  and  requesting  you  to  furnish  him  with  such  information  as 
the  records  of  the  Department  of  the  Interior  may  afford,  touching 
the  matter  in  question. 

After  consultation  with  the  Hon.  A.  M.  Otero,  the  mover  of  the 
resolution,  as  to  the  particular  hostilities  he  had  reference  to,  and  the 
time  from  which  jjown  he  desired  information,  I  herewith  transmit  the 
accompanying  papers,  being  copies  of  all  papers  on  file  and  of  record 
in  this  office  on  the  subject  of  Indian  hostilities  in  the  Territory  of 
New  Mexico  since  the  transmission  of  my  last  annual  report. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
Hon.  JACOB  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


IT.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENCY, 
Sante  Fe,  New  Mexico,  OctoberlG,  1859. 

SIR  :  Since  the  transmission  of  my  annual  report,  several  parties  of 
Indians  have  visited  the  superintendency.     Among  them  two  chiefs  of 


46  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

the  Pobawotche  Utahs,  Nan-Tos,  and  Chichi-Sawan.  The  former  is 
the  head  chief  of  the  band. 

They  acknowleged  that  their  people  had  fought  with  the  miners, 
about  Pike's  Peak,  and  that  several  had  been  killed  on  both  sides  ;  but 
as  usual  the  act  was  charged  upon  their  young  men,  who,  when  away 
from  the  chiefs  aad  older  warriors,  were  subject  to  commit  wrongs 
that  are  highly  condemned  and  deprecated  by  the  band.  They  stated 
that  the  miners  had  ventured  far  into  the  Indian  country,  and  thus 
came  in  contact  with  a  party  of  young  warriors.  They  attached  no 
blame  to  the  miners  in  the  affair  except  that  of  being  too  far  in  the 
Indian  country  in  so  small  a  party. 

The  statement  with  regard  to  one  of  the  fights  is  as  follows  :  five 
Americans  were  discovered  by  one  Utah  near  Grand  river  ;  the  Utah 
went  into  the  camp  of  the  Americans  and  was  kindly  treated — received 
his  breakfast  and  a  few  presents,  and  left.  Very  soon  two  others 
came  up  and  were  received  and  treated  in  the  same  manner.  They 
also  left ;  when  a  large  party  on  horseback  came  up  and  surrounded 
the  Americans  who  were  then  in  the  act  of  saddling  their  animals. 
One  of  the  Utahs  shot  an  American,  and  killed  him,  when  they  re- 
treated a  short  distance  and  fired  several  guns  at  the  Americans,  who 
all  fell  to  the  ground  ;  the  Indians  supposing  them  all  killed  dis- 
mounted and  approached  them,  when  one  of  the  Americans  arose  with 
his  revolver  and  killed  three  Indians.  They  were  finally  overpowered 
and  all  killed.  This  is  another  intance  of  the  folly  and  and  impru- 
dence of  small  parties  of  our  countrymen  venturing  into  the  Indian 
country,  even  among  tribes  who  are  disposed  to  be  friendly.  It  is  not 
strange  that  the  most  friendly  tribes  should  have  bad  men  among 
them ;  such  are  found  among  ourselves,  where  we  have  all  the  restraints 
of  law  and  civilization. 

There  is  now  at  the  superintendency  a  party  of  Navajoes,  with  one 
chief  Harera.  Colonel  Bonneville  and  myself  had  a  talk  with  them 
yesterday. 

They  are  certainly  desirous  to  settle  all  difficulty  and  remain  at 
peace,  but  I  doubt  whether  they  have  the  proper  appreciation  of  their 
treaty  obligations.  They  have  so  often  shuffled  out  of  those  obliga- 
tions that  they  seem  now  to  attach  but  little  importance  to  them. 

The  excuse  is,  that  the  depredations  are  committed  by  bad  men,  over 
whom  they  find  it  impossible  to  exercise  any  control,  and  seem  willing 
to  take  the  chances  that  we  will  not  hold  the  tribe  accountable  for  the 
acts  of  a  few  bad  Indians.  I  do  not  see  any  reason  to  change  my 
opinion  with  regard  to  the  late  treaty  with  the  Navajoes.  They  should 
be  required  to  fulfil  its  stipulations  to  the  letter.  If  this  is  not  done 
now,  it  will  be  folly  to  expect  them  pay  any  attention  to  their  promises 
hereafter.  The  troops  were  withdrawn  from  their  country  last  winter 
upon  the  condition  stated  in  the  treaty,  that  they  would  indemnify 
the  citizens  for  all  the  property  stolen  from  them  from  the  15th  of 
August  to  the  25th  December  ;  and  for  robberies  committed  after 
that  time,  they  bound  themselves  to  return  the  property,  or  in  either 
case  upon  failure  to  comply  the  troops  were  authorized  to  make  re- 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  47 

prisals  upon  the  flocks  of  the  tribe  at  large  to  indemnify  the  suffer- 
ers.    This  should  be  exacted  and  enforced. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS. 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  New  Mexico. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City. 


18.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENT, 
Sante  Fe3  New  Mexico,  November  27,  1859. 

SIR:  The  troops  are  now  returning  from  the Navajoes country,  and, 
as  I  expected,  without  having  done  anything  to  force  a  fulfilment  of 
the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  peace  concluded  with  the  tribe  in  Decem- 
ber last. 

I  am  informed,  however,  that  a  few  days  before  the  troops  left  De- 
fiance on  the  return,  a  detachment  was  ordered  out  under  Major  Shep- 
herd, who  attacked  a  party  of  Navajoes,  killed  three  and  wounded 
some  seven  or  eight.  I  will  merely  say,  in  reference  to  this,  that  I 
fear  it  will  have  a  bad  effect  upon  the  Indians. 

As  the  troops  were  ordered  out  of  the  Indian  country,  it  would  have 
been  better  to  have  left  the  Indians  quiet.  It  is  perhaps  proper  to 
mention  that  agent  Kendrick,  on  the  25th  of  October  last,  turned  over 
to  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Defiance  the  collection  of  the 
claims  for  stolen  property  arising  under  the  treaty. 

Enclosed  you  will  find  a  copy  of  his  letter  to  Major  Shepherd  on  the 
subject.  The  matter  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  military,  and  it  re- 
mains to  be  seen  what  they  will  do  to  bring  this  question  to  a  close. 
I  have  never  had  but  one  opinion  on  the  subject,  and  that  is,  that  the 
Indians  should  be  forced  into  a  full  and  rigid  compliance  with  the 
terms  of  that  treaty  ;  and  why  the  troops  have  hesitated  in  reference 
.  to  it,  is  indeed  strange.  The  terms  of  the  treaty  were  based  upon  the 
suggestions  of  Colonel  Bonneville  himself,  and  I  was  unprepared  to 
see  him  falter  in  executing  the  part  which  he  had  assigned  to  him- 
self. 

I  am  now  preparing  official  copies  of  the  list  of  property  for  which 
the  Indians  are  liable  under  the  treaty,  with  one  of  which  I  will  fur- 
nish the  commanding  officer  of  the  department,  and  he  may  do  with 
it  as  he  thinks  proper.  Of  one  thing  I  feel  conscious,  that  the  In- 
dian department  have  not  faltered  in  meeting  the  question  with  the 
Navajoes,  and  to  have  done  everything  that  can  reasonably  be  required 
to  effect  a  settlement  of  this  vexed  question. 

The  troops  are  not  yet  all  in  ;  when  they  arrive  I  will  again  write 
to  you. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  New  Mexico. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City. 


48  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW   MEXICO. 


18  a. 

FORT  DEFIANCE,  NEW  MEXICO,  INDIAN  AGENCY, 

October  25,  1859. 

SIR  :  Having  used  every  means  within  iny  power  as  agent  for  the  Nav- 
ajoe  Indians  to  ohtain  from  them  a  compliance  with  the  stipulations 
into  which  they  entered  with  the  authorities  of  the  United  States  in 
a  written  engagement  or  treaty  on  the  25th  of  December,  1858,  and 
these  means  having  entirely  failed  to  induce  such  compliance,  it  now 
becomes  my  duty,  under  my  instructions  from  the  superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs  of  this  Territory,  to  bring  officially  to  your  knowledge  the 
delinquency  of  the  tribe,  and  to  apply  to  you,  as  the  commanding  offi- 
cer of  the  United  States  troops  at  this  post,  to  enforce  against  these 
Indians  the  provisions  of  that  engagement  or  treaty.  On  the  13th, 
18th,  and  25th  of  September  last  a  demand  was  made  on  them  in 
council,  and  also  since  through  their  chiefs,  for  the  return  of  certain 
property  consisting  of  horses,  sheep,  &e.,  and  numbered  as  follows  : 
horses  81,  sheep  5,565,  cattle  68,  valued  at  $14,367  50,  stolen  by  a 
party  of  Navajoes  on  or  about  the  20th  of  October,  1858,  near  Albu- 
querque. This  demand  has  not  been  complied  with,  nor  is  there  any 
prospect  that  it  will  be. 

At  the  same  time  and  place  a  demand  was  also  made  upon  the  said 
Indians  for  the  rendition  of  the  persons,  members  of  the  tribe,  charged 
with  the  murders  of  two  Mexicans  near  the  Rio  Grande  in  September 
last.  Neither  has  this  requisition  been  complied  with  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians,  nor  have  I  any  hope  that  it  will  be  unless  steps  are  taken 
to  enforce  them.  These  cases  come  clearly  within  the  provisions  of 
the  engagement  or  treaty  above  referred  to,  (of  which  I  am  ready,  if 
desired,  to  furnish  you  a  copy,)  and  call  for  the  application  of  the 
remedies  provided  for  in  that  instrument. 

In  obedience,  therefore,  to  my  instructions  above  referred  to,  I  apply 
to  you  for  the  enforcement  of  the  stipulations  of  that  treaty,  and  hav- 
ing thus  discharged  my  duties  in  the  premises, 
I  remain,  very  respectfully, 

SILAS  F.  KENDRICK, 

Indian  Agent. 

Major  0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 

Commanding  Fort  Defiance,  New  Mexico. 


19.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENT, 
Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  December  5,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  am  requested  to  enclose  to  the  Indian  Department  at  Wash- 
ington the  accompanying  copy  of , the  proceedings  of  a  public  meeting 
held  in  the  county  of  San  Miguel. 

have  reason  to  believe  that  the  action  of  the  meeting  does  not 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  49 

show  any  exaggerations  of  the  condition  of  that  frontier,  and  respect- 
fully submit  to  you  the  propriety  of  calling  the  attention  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  to  the  subject. 

I  have  refrained  from  troubling  you  about  the  condition  of  those 
Indians,  in  reference  to  our  mail  from  Independence,  for  the  reason 
that  the  occurrence  which  has  led  to  the  stoppage  of  the  mail  took 
place  out  of  my  jurisdiction,  and  I  supposed  the  facts  would  reach 
you  through  other  channels. 

The  Indians  of  the  plains,  as  I  have  repeatedly  stated  to  the  de- 
partment in  former  letters,  will  certainly  have  to  be  chastised  before 
we  can  have  any  security  in  passing  the  plains. 

They  have  no  respect  for  the  authority  of  the  government,  and  will 
not  have  until  they  are  made  to  feel  its  power. 

When  they  are  chastised,  I  hope  it  may  be  done  properly.  A  large 
force  will  be  necessary,  and  the  troops  should  enter  the  Indian  country 
from  Texas,  New  Mexico,  and  Kansas. 

A  small  force  comprising  a  single  column  could  do  nothing  effective. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Stipt.  Ind.  Affairs,  New  Mexico. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Com.  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  city. 


19.  a. 

i 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  San  Miguel  county,  assembled  this 
1st  day  of  December,  1859,  at  Las  Vegas. 

Theodore  Baca  having  been  appointed  chairman,  the  following 
resolutions  were  adopted : 

That  the  object  of  this  meeting  is  to  take  into  consideration  the 
condition  of  affairs  on  the  frontier  of  this  country,  and  all  persons 
present  who  have  suffered  during  the  present  fall  from  depredations 
of  the  Indians,  are  requested  to  come  forward  and  state  what  they 
have  suffered. 

Agreeably  to  this  call,  Don  Filiciana  Guterous  stated,  that  on  or 
about  the  21st  day  of  November,  his  ranch,  situated  in  the  Canon  de 
Queba,  was  visited  by  a  large  number  of  Comanche  Indians,  who 
drove  off  the  herders,  destroyed  the  ranch  and  property,  and  forcibly 
seized  and  butchered  a  large  number  of  sheep  of  his  and  the  neigh- 
boring herds. 

Don  Felix  Chavis  also  came  forward  and  stated,  that  on  or  about 
the  24th  day  of  November,  a  number  of  Comanche  Indians  came  into 
his  ranch,  situated  on  the  Conchas,  seized  and  stripped  the  herders, 
killed  two  and  wounded  one  head  of  cattle,  and  then  destroyed  his 
ranche  and  property. 

It  was  also  stated  that  the  herds  of  Messrs.  Whitlock  &  Taylor, 
Connelly  &  Co.,  and  others  in  the  vicinity  of  Anton1  Chico,  have  also 
been  visited  by  the  Indians,  at  different  times,  killing  cattle,  stealing 
horses,  and  destroying  property;  and,  by  authority  of  Indian  traders, 
numerous  bodies  of  Indians  are  now  prowling  upon  our  borders,  and 
H.  Ex.  Doc,  69 4 


50  INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

it  is  evident  that  their  object  is  to  repeat  their  depredations  upon  onr 
herds  and  property. 

In  consideration  of  our  inahility  to  afford  protection  to  our  property, 
it  is  herehy  resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting 
be  forwarded  to  the  governor  of  this  Territory,  as  a  means  of  inform- 
ing him  of  the  liabilities  and  dangers  to  which  we  are  at  present  sub- 
jected. Hoping  that  his  authority  may  be  exercised  for  our  future 
protection. 

THEODORE  BACA,  Chairman. 


20.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  December  24,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  transmit  to  you,  for  your  infor- 
mation, the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Superintendent  J.  L.  Collins,  dated 
November  27,  and  received  by  yesterday's  mail,  relative  to  the  return 
of  the  military  expedition  against  the  Navajoes,  and  the  failure  of  the 
latter  to  comply  with  the  stipulations  of  what  the  superintendent 
calls  a  treaty  concluded  with  them  in  December,  1858;  also  the  copy 
of  a  letter  of  agent  Silas  F.  Kendrick  to  Major  0.  L.  Shepherd,  com- 
manding Fort  Defiance,  calling  upon  him,  under  instructions  from 
Superintendent  Collins,  to  enforce  the  said  treaty  stipulations. 

A  copy  of  the  above  treaty  concluded  between  Colonel  Bonncville 
and  Superintendent  Collins,  on  the  one  side,  and  the  Navajoes  on  the 
other,  was  received  by  this  office  on  the  3d  day  of  January  last,  and 
referred  to  you  for  your  information,  and  returned  to  this  office  on  the 
6th  of  the  same  month.  This  office  not  having  any  official  knowledge 
of  the  place  where  the  original  can  be  found,  I  would  respectfully 
suggest  that  inquiries  be  made  at  the  War  Department,  and  if  the 
same  is  in  possession  of  the  original,  that  the  necessary  steps  be  taken 
to  have  upon  it  constitutional  action,  if  desirable. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD,  Commissioner. 

Hon.  J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


21.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THK  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  December  30,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  transmit  for  your  information 
the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Superintendent  J.  L.  Collins,  dated  the  5th 
inst.,  covering  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  a  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  San  Miguel  county,  assembled  on  the  1st  inst.,  at  Las 
Vegas,  New  Mexico. 

The  minutes  show,  not  only  that  the  Comanches  have,  during  No- 
vember last,  destroyed  several  ranches,  but  are  now  prowling  upon 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN    NEW  MEXICO.  51 

the  borders  with  the  evident  design  of  repeating  their  depredations 
upon  the  property  of  the  settlers. 

The  superintendent  says,  in  his  communication,  that  he  believes  that 
the  statements  of  the  settlers  are  not  exaggerated,  and  submits  the 
propriety  of  calling  the  attention  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  the  sub- 
ject. He  further  says  that  the  Indians  ot  the  plains  will  certainly 
have  to  be  chastised  before  we  can  have  any  security  in  passing  over 
the  plains.  He  thinks  that  a  large  military  force  should  be  employed, 
and  that  three  columns,  one  from  Texas,  one  from  New  Mexico,  and 
one  from  Kansas,  should  simultaneously  enter  the  Indian  country,  and 
that  a  single  column  would,  in  his  opinion,  do  nothing  effective. 

I  would  respectfully  suggest,  provided  it  meets  with  your  approba- 
tion, that  copies  of  the  enclosures  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  for  his  information,  and  such  action  thereon  as  in  his  judgment 
the  exigencies  of  the  case  shall  require. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD,  Commissioner. 

Hon.  JACOB  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


22.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDED  Y, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  January  7,  1860. 

SIR  :  With  a  view  of  keeing  you  fully  advised  upon  the  subject  of 
the  existing  difficulty  with  the  Navajoes,  I  deem  it  proper  to  place  be- 
fore you  the  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  from  this  office  to  Col- 
onel Fauntleroy,  who  is  now  in  command  o'.'  this  department.  The 
difference  in  opinion  which  has  existed  with  the  military  and  myself 
in  reference  to  this  question  is,  perhaps,  known  to  the  commissioner. 
It  has  heretofore  amounted  to  a  mere  difference,  but  it  seems  likely 
now  to  widen  into  something  more  serious. 

I  have  ever  since  the  execution  of  the  late  treaty  with  the  Navajoes, 
which  is  now  more  than  a  year  ago,  maintained  the  position  that  they 
should  be  forced  into  a  compliance  with  the  terms  of  that  agreement, 
otherwise  they  would  be  left  in  a  less  reliable  attitude  than  they  were 
previous  to  that  time.  By  the  agreement  referred  to,  they  bound 
themselves  to  return  all  the  property  stolen  by  any  of  their  people 
after  a  certain  date.  Under  this  clause  claims  were  presented  and 
proven  before  me  to  the  amount  of  some  fourteen  or  fifteen  thousand 
dollars.  .It  was  also  provided  that  if  the  property  stolen  was  not  re- 
turned, it  was  to  be  paid  for  by  the  tribe  in  other  property  at  a  valua- 
tion, and  in  default  of  payment  the  troops  were  authorized  to  make 
reprisals  from  the  flocks  at  large  of  the  nation,  to  the  full  extent  of 
the  losses.  I  was  satisfied,  when  the  agreement  was  made,  that  the 
Indians  would  not  comply  with  the  terms  unless  force  was  used,  and 
have  urged  upon  the  troops  the  necessity  of  that  alternative,  but  with- 
out effect. 

One  reason  assigned  by  the  troops  for  not  usingt  his  force,  is,  that 


52  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

the  claims  are  not  just.  I  will  not  say  that  this  ground  is  taken 
as  a  mere  excuse,  but  I  will  say  that  a  careful  examination  of  the 
claims  would  remove  such  an  impression.  There  is  a  portion  of  them 
certainly  about  which  there  can  be  no  doubt,  for  the  robberies  were  of 
such  public  notoriety  as  to  be  known  to  the  whole  neighborhood  in 
which  they  occurred. 

It  was  not  the  return  of  the  stolen  property  about  which  I  was  par- 
ticularly concerned  ;  it  was  the  effect  which  I  felt  satisfied  would  be 
produced  upon  the  Indians  by  a  firm  and  quiet  enforcement  of  those 
terms.  It  would  I  have  but  little  doubt  prevented  the  robberies  that 
have  been  committed  within  the  last  four  or  five  months;  and  not  only 
this,  it  would  have  prevented  the  outburst  of  public  opinion  which  at 
this  time  pervades  the  Territory  on  the  subject  of  a  want  of  protection. 
This  feeling  has  become  so  universal  among  the  people  that  it  is  vent- 
ing itself  in  the  organization  of  guerrilla  parties  to  invade  the  Navajoe 
country.  These  expeditions  will  of  course  be  followed  by  retaliation 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  and  must  force  us  into  another  war  with 
the  tribe,  that  might,  in  my  opinion,  have  been  prevented  by  a  firm 
and  timely  enforcement  of  the  terms  of  the  treaty.  This  is  my  view 
of  the  matter;  and  even  admitting  that  some  of  the  claims  maybe 
unjust,  which  I  do  not  believe  to  be  the  case,  their  collection  would  be 
a  trifling  consideration  compared  with  a  disastrous  campaign  against 
the  tribe.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  told  me  the  other  day  that  he  expected 
to  move  against  the  Navajoes  in  the  spring,  and  that  he  intended 
to  increase  his  force  by  six  or  eight  companies  of  Mexican  volunteers, 
and  three  or  four  hundred  Utah  Indians.  This  will  in  all  prob- 
ability break  up  the  nation.  It  is  true,  the  Navajoes  deserve  but  little 
of  our  sympathy;  but  humanity  demands  that  we  should  deal  with 
them  in  such  a  manner  as  will  prevent  their  destruction.  They  are 
much  further  advanced  in  habits  of  industry  and  the  arts  of  husbandry 
than  any  of  the  wild  tribes  under  our  charge.  Indeed  they  are  at 
this  time  entirely  capable  of  being  a  self-sustaining  people. 

This  explanation  is  made  for  the  reason  that  I  understand  Colonel 
Fauntleroy  is  displeased  at  the  tenor  of  the  enclosed  letter.  I  cer- 
tainly did  not  intend  to  be  offensive,  and  cannot  see  that  anything  in 
the  letter  should  be  so  regarded.  I  only  did  what  I  conceived  to  be 
an  official  duty.  It  is  true  that  Colonel  Fauntleroy  did  not  arrive 
here  until  it  was  too  late  to  undertake  the  enforcement  of  the  terms  of 
the  treaty,  but  the  affair  was  with  the  troops  more  than  himself. 
They  had  by  a  course  of  inactivity  allowed  the  spring  and  summer  to 
pass  without  taking  any  steps  to  discharge  what  I  conceived  to  be  an 
imperative  duty  imposed  upon  them  by  the  treaty,  and  I  thought  it 
right  to  let  the  responsibility  rest  where  it  belongs. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  New  Mexico. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Comrmssioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  53 

22  a. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENCY, 
Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  December  14,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  ad- 
dressed by  United  States  Indian  Agent  Kendrick  to  Major  0.  L.  Shep- 
herd, United  States  army,  commanding  fort  Defiance,  by  which  you 
will  perceive  that  on  the  25th  of  October  last,  the  Navajoes  up  to  that 
time  having  failed  to  comply  with  their  treaty  obligations  under  the 
arrangement  of  the  25th  of  December,  1858,  and  there  being  no  prob- 
ability that  they  would  comply,  they  were  turned  over  to  the  military, 
to  the  end  that  the  remedies  provided  in  the  treaty  might  be  e  iforced 
against  them  for  such  delinquency. 

You  will  also  find  a  copy  of  the  original  list  of  property  stolen  by 
the  tribe,  for  which  they  are  liable  under  the  conditions  of  the  treaty 
referred  to,  so  far  as  the  same  has  been  proven  up.  Other  liabilities 
doubtless  exist  which  may  or  may  not  be  presented. 

I  have  given  you  my  opinion  heretofore  that  the  season  was  too  far 
advanced  to  undertake  to  enforce  these  stipulations  now  ;  but  I  hope 
the  obligation  to  enforce  them,  which  may  be  regarded  as  resting  upon 
the  military,  may  not  be  lost  sight  of. 

The  treaty  which  imposes  those  terms  was  based  upon  the  sugges- 
tions of  Colonel  Bonneville  himself,  and,  however  harsh  they  may  now 
appear  to  be,  the  command,  of  which  he  was  then  the  chief,  should 
not  falter  at  their  enforcement. 

Much  has  been  said  about  the  injustice  and  exaggerated  character 
of  the  claims  against  the  Navajoes,  which  I  think  has  very  little  foun- 
dation. The  only  way  we  can  determine  the  truth  of  a  robbery  com- 
mitted by  an  Indian  not  witnessed  by  ourselves,  is  from  the  evidence 
of  others  ;  and  if  we  put  these  claims  to  this  test  we  are  bound  to 
receive  them  as  just,  for  the  proof  as  to  the  loss,  and  the  identity  of  the 
Indians,  is  positive  in  each  case.  But,  aside  from  the  doubt  which 
may  be  said  to  rest  upon  the  testimony  of  Mexicans  in  reference  to 
Indian  robberies,  there  is  a  portion  of  those  claims  about  which  there 
can  be  no  doubt  ;  of  this  class  we  may  name  that  of  Carpenter  for 
nineteen  oxen  taken  from  Fort  Defiance.  The  claim  of  the  Pu- 
eblo, Islata,  for  eight  hundred  and  fifteen  sheep,  and  the  claim 
of  Jose  Felipe  Ohavis  for  four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  sheep. 
Of  the  same  class  are  most  of  the  claims  from  Abiquiu.  But  the 
military  will  certainly  have  a  discretion  in  the  matter,  and  where  they 
have  any  doubt  about  the  injustice  of  a  claim  let  it  be  returned,  and 
if  further  proof  cannot  be  adduced  we  will  throw  it  out  entirely. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Sup't.  Indian  Affairs,  New  Mexico. 

Colonel  T.  T.  FAUNTLEROY, 

Commanding  Department,  New  Mexico. 


54  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES  IN  NEW  MEXICO. 


23 ;  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greemvood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENCE, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  January  29,  1860. 

SIR  :  The  Navajoes  have  at  last  commenced  a  decisive  war  upon  our 
people.  On  the  17th  instant,  they  attacked  the  soldiers  at  Fort  Defi- 
ance, who  were  in  charge  of  the  herding  party,  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  fort  ;  they  killed  three  men.  The  same  day  they  attacked 
the  wood  party  who  were  out  for  wood,  killed  one  man  and  wounded 
another,  took  a  number  of  oxen,  and  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  mules. 

This  is  bearding  the  lion  in  his  den.  They  are  also  killing  and 
robbing  the  Mexicans  all  along  the  Eio  Grande  ;  some  ten  or  more 
have  been  killed.  A  war  with  the  tribe  is  now  beyond  the  possibility 
of  prevention.  This  is  certainly  greatly  to  be  regretted,  not  only  on 
account  of  the  heavy  cost  in  which  it  will  involve  the  government, 
but  it  will  most  likely  destroy  the  means  which  the  tribe  now  possess 
for  self  support. 

I  might  rely  upon  my  correspondence  now  in  your  office  to  vindi- 
cate me  from  any  accountability  in  this  rupture  with  those  Indians; 
but  I  design  next  week  to  give  a  short  sketch  of  events  covering  this 
question,  by  way  of  placing  myself  right  before  the  Indian  depart- 
ment. 

Yery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City. 


24.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENCY, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  February  4,  1860. 

SIR  :  Enclosed  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  copy  of  a  resolution 
passed  by  the  legislative  assembly,  the  object  of  which  will  be  ex- 
plained by  the  resolution  itself. 

The  governor,  not  having  the  information  in  the  executive  office 
tbat  enabled  him  to  answer  the  interrogatories,  addressed  a  note  to  this 
office,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  resolution,  with  a  request  that  I  would 
furnish  the  information  as  far  as  the  subject  pertained  to  my  office. 

My  answer  will  be  found  enclosed.  This  same  request  was  made 
by  the  governor  to  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  and  he  refused  to  answer.  I 
have  not  seen  the  Colonel  myself,  but  I  understand  that  he  reflects  on 
me  for  the  tenor  of  my  reply  to  the  questions  asked  by  the  legisla- 
ture. This,  and  other  facts  which  preceded  it,  gives  rise  to  what  I 
wish  to  explain  to  yourself  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

I  received  my  appointment  as  superintendent,  and  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  the  office  in  April,  1857".  At  that  time  there  was  no  agent 
with  the  Navajoes,  but  the  officer  then  in  command  of  Fort  Defiance 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  55 

was  a  discreet  and  prudent  officer,  and  managed  the  Indians  so  as  to 
acquire  their  confidence.  In  September,  of  that  year,  Agent  Horley 
arrived  from  the  States,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Fort  Defiance. 
In  October,  I  accompanied  him  to  the  fort,  where  we  met  the  Indians 
and  issued  to  them  a  large  amount  of  presents.  In  the  council  had 
with  the  tribe  on  that  occasion,  they  gave  us  every  assurance  that 
their  people  would  give  up  their  predatory  habits,  and  during  the 
following  winter  robberies  were  less  frequent  than  they  had  ever  been  be- 
fore, notwithstanding  their  grain  crop  had  been  almost  an  entire  failure 
the  preceding  season  on  account  of  the  drought. 

The  Indians  were,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  grain,  compelled  to 
resort  to  the  settlements  to  get  a  supply,  yet  but  few  robberies  were 
committed  by  them.  In  the  meantime,  however,  the  command  at 
Fort  Defiance  had  passed  into  other  hands,  and  Agent  Horley  left  for 
the  States.  The  new  officer  in  command  at  Defiance  had  neither  the 
patience  nor  temperament  to  manage  Indians.  Frequent  disturbances 
occurred.,  in  which  the  Indians  generally  came  out  second  best. 

The  result  was,  that  when  the  spring  opened,  1858,  robberies  be- 
came more  frequent.  This  state  of  things  continued  until  near  the 
commencement  of  June,  when  a  very  serious  difficulty  occurred  with 
the  Indians  and  the  troops.  Certain  valleys  had  by  an  arrangement 
with  the  Indians  been  reserved  for  meadow  grounds  for  the  use  of  the 
post.  The  whole  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Defiance  was  entirely 
destitute  of  grass,  on  account  of  the  drought,  except  in  the  low  grounds 
and  valleys. 

Owing  to  this  scarcity,  the  Indian  herds  were  ranging  over  the 
country  for  grass,  and  finally  got  into  some  of  the  meadow  lands  of 
the  post.  About  this  a  difficulty  ensued  that  resulted  in  the  killing 
of  some  sixty  or  seventy  horses  belonging  to  the  Indians,  shot  down 
by  the  troops  in  one  of  the  meadows.  This  act  was  entirely  uncalled 
for,  and  of  course  had  the  worst  possible  effect  upon  the  Indians.  The 
number  of  robberies  in  a  very  short  time  were  greatly  increased ;  and 
not  only  this,  the  servant  of  the  commanding  officer  was  shot  and 
killed  by  an  Indian  in  the  fort. 

A  demand  was  made  for  the  murderer  of  the  servant,  and  thirty 
days  given  the  Indians  for  his  surrender,  or  war  was  to  be  declared 
against  the  tribe.  The  murderer  was  not  given  up,  and  war  was  the 
result.  ISow,  in  all  this  the  Indian  department  had  nothing  to  do. 
We  were  not  consulted.  The  issue  was  made,  and  the  war  was  pre- 
cipitated upon  us,  and  no  questions  asked.  The  manner  of  conduct- 
ing the  war  proved  equally  unfortunate.  In  the  first  place,  it  was 
waged  against  that  part  of  the  tribe  who  wanted  peace,  and  who  would 
have  made  any  reasonable  sacrifice  to  secure  it.  They  collected  all 
the  stolen  horses  within  their  reach,  some  seventy  or  eighty  in  num- 
ber— horses  that  had  been  stolen  from  the  Mexicans — and  turned  them 
over  to  the  troops.  Of  these  horses  no  account  was  taken,  and 
none  of  them  ever  reached  their  owners.  A  large  number  of  sheep 
were  captured,  and  some  five  thousand  of  them  slaughtered  on  the  plain, 
because  as  was  alleged  they  could  not  betaken  care  of.  This  had  the 
effect  not  only  to  exasperate  the  Indians,  but  the  Mexicans  also,  since 
it  showed  a  disposition  to  disregard  their  losses.  They  had  met  with 


56  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

heavy  losses  by  the  Indians,  and  the  property  recovered  would  have 
been  a  great  relief  to  many  families  who  had  been  stripped  of  nearly 
all  they  possessed.  The  only  object  that  the  troops  seemed  desirous 
to  accomplish  was  to  avenge  the  death  of  the  negro.  I  mention  this 
not  in  the  spirit  of  fault  finding,  but  to  show  the  train  of  circum- 
stances that  has  led -to  the  present  condition  of  things  with  the  Mexi- 
cans and  Indians.  The  war  after  a  brief  existence  was  brought  to  a 
close  by  an  armistice  for  thirty  days. 

This  agreement  provided  for  the  return  of  all  property  taken  from 
the  troops,  without  any  reference  to  that  taken  from  the  Mexicans. 
This  again  was  unfortunate,  and  calculated  to  increase  the  discontent 
of  the  Mexicans.  Colonel  Bonneville  and  myself,  with  a  view  to  si- 
lence these  complaints,  concluded  to  meet  the  Indians  at  Defiance.  On 
our  arrival  at  the  fort  we  found  the  troops  in  a  condition  that  left  us 
no  alternative. 

The  war  had  to  be  closed;  the  troops  were  without  provisions  or  forage, 
and  were  compelled  to  return  to  the  Rio  Grande.  I  felt  well  assured  that 
the  Indians  had  not  been  humbled  by  the  effects  of  the  war,  except  the 
few  that  were  immediately  around  the  fort,  and  that  the  war  was  a 
failure.  The  department  is  familiar  with  the  conditions  of  peace  that 
were  agreed  upon.  It  was  the  best  that  suggested  itself  to  my  mind, 
and  I  feel  quite  certain  that  if  ths  stipulations  had  been  judiciously 
enforced  at  the  proper  time,  it  would  have  had  a  most  salutary  effect 
upon  the  Indians.  The  military,  however,  for  reasons  btst  known  to 
themselves,  have  failed  to  enforce  the  stipulations  ;  and  not  only  this, 
Indians  have  been  thrown  back  upon  the  hands  of  the  Indian  depart- 
ment, and  we  are  coolly  told  that  we  are  the  treaty-making  power,  and 
should  be  accountable  for  the  non-fulfilment  of  treaty  stipulations. 
Now,  if  you  will  trace  the  foregoing  circumstances,  they  will  explain 
the  injustice  of  this. 

The  Indians  have  been,  by  a  series  of  blunders,  aroused  and  exasper- 
ated, and  the  same  causes  have  had  a  like  effect  upon  the  Mexicans, 
and  we  are  now  in  a  condition  that  must  force  us  into  another  war, 
and  I  seriously  dread  the  consequences  for  the  Navajoes. 

I  care  nothing  about  Colonel  Fauntleroy  or  his  opinions,  except  so  far 
as  a  misunderstanding  with  him  may  affect  the  public  service.  I  wish, 
however,  to  be  correctly  understood  by  the  Indian  department,  and  for 
this  reason  it  is  that  I  have  troubled  you  with  this  detail. 

The  subject  of  our  relations  with  the  Navajces  has  been  a  fruitful 
source  of  action  in  the  legislature  during  the  session  just  closed.  Res- 
olutions of  censure  in  all  possible  shapes  were  discussed  and  passed, 
and  again  rescinded.  I  do  not  know  that  any  of  them  received  the 
approval  of  both  branches  of  the  honorable  body,  but  a  notice  of  these 
will  most  likely  meet  you  at  Washington,  since  we  have  here  the  usual 
quota  of  fools  and  meddlers  that  falls  to  the  lot  of  Territories. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Neiv  Mexico. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City. 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES    IN   NEW  MEXICO.  57 


24  a. 

A  joint  resolutian  asking  for  information  from  his  excellency  the  gov- 
ernor relative  to  the  treaty  made  with  the  Navajoe  Indians  about  the 
first  of  the  past  year,  1859. 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Council  and  House  of  Hepresentativesofthe  Terri- 
tory of  New  Mexico,  That  his  excellency  the  governor  be,  and  he  is 
hereby,  respectfully  requested  to  inform  the  legislative  assembly: 

1st.  That  whether  or  not  the  said  Navajoes  have  complied  with  t^ie 
said  treaty  of  peace  made  with  them  about  the  first  of  the  past  year, 
1859? 

2d.  That  if  the  said  Navajoes  have  restored  or  paid  the  whole  or 
any  part  of  the  property  stolen  by  them  during  or  previous  to  the  cam- 
paign made  against  them  in  the  year,  1858? 

3d.  That  if  they  have  not  complied  with  the  stipulations  of  said 
treaty,  what  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  proper  departments  to  com- 
pel them  to  a  due  compliance  therewith? 

4th.  That  have  the  said  Indians  been  delivered  over  recently  to  the 
military  department  or  not,  to  be  punished  for  their  constant  hostilities, 
or  are  they  considered  as  at  peace  by  the  Indian  department? 

5th.  That  if  they  have  been  turned  over  to  the  military  department 
of  this  Territory,  what  measures  have  been  taken  to  compel  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  stipulations  of  said  treaty  of  peace,  and  for  the  future  se- 
curity of  our  settlements  ? 

Which  questions  your  excellency  will  be  pleased  to  answer  at  your 
earliest  convenience. 


24  b. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENT, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  January  2\,  1860. 

SIR  :  Your  favor  of  this  morning,  enclosing  the  copy  of  a  resolution 
passed  by  the  legislative  assembly,  propounding  to  your  excellency 
certain  interrogatories  as  to  the  condition  of  the  Navajoe  tribe  of 
Indians,  is  now  before  me. 

As  a  part  of  the  information  asked  for,  I  enclose  the  copies  of  two 
letters,  one  addressed  by  United  States  Indian  agent  Kendrick  to 
Major  0.  L.  Shepherd,  commanding  Fort  Defiance.  The  other  ad- 
dressed from  this  office  to  Col.  T.  T.  Fauntleroy. 

From  these  letters  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Navajoes  have  not  com- 
plied with  the  stipulation,  of  the  late  treaty  made  with  them,  arid 
that  in  consequence  of  their  delinquency  they  have  been  turned  over 
to  t!  e  military,  to  the  end  that  the  terms  of  the  treaty  might  be  en- 
forced by  the  military,  power,  as  provided  in  the  treaty. 

As  regards  the  question  as  to  whether  the  tribe  is  at  peace  or  war, 
I  can  only  say  that  it  was  my  understanding  when  the  late  treaty  was 
signed  that  it  was  not  to  secure  peace  to  the  tribe  unless  all  the  condi- 
tions were  fully  complied  with  by  them. 


58  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

This,  it  seems  to  me,  is  the  only  fair  construction  that  can  be 
placed  upon  the  first  article  of  that  agreement.  From  the  enclosed 
letters  it  will  be  seen  that  the  terms  have  not  been  complied  with  ; 
neither  have  the  Indians  ceased  their  depredations  upon  the  settle- 
ments. 

The  third  and  fifth  interrogatories  can  be  better  answered  by  the 
military  department  than  by  this,  to  which  you  are  referred. 

As  regards  the  second  inquiry,  I  have  to  say  that  some  property 
has  been  turned  in  by  the  Navajoes,  under  the  terms  of  the  treaty, 
consisting  of  horses  and  sheep.  The  horses  were  not  the  same  stolen 
by  the  Indians  from  the  citizens,  but  were  without  brands,  and 
seemed  to  be  the  refuse  of  the  Indian  herds,  most  of  them  of  very 
little  value.  These  horses  were  appraised,  and  a  part  of  them  used 
in  the  payment  of  a  claim  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  dollars,  due 
under  the  treaty  to  the  Pueblo  of  San  Ildefonso.  The  residue  of  the 
horses  were  paid  citizens  about  Abiquice,  who  also  held  claims  payable 
under  the  terms  of  the  treaty. 

The  sheep  received  from  the  Indians  under  the  terms  of  the  treaty 
will  be  used  in  discharging  a  part  of  the  claim  of  Don  Jose  Felipe 
Chavis,  of  Bernadillo  county,  for  four  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
fifty*sheep,  which  claim  is  also  due  and  payable  under  the  conditions  of 
the  treaty.  The  property  thus  received  from  the  Indians  will  amount 
in  value  to  some  fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  when  paid 
over  and  deducted  from  the  whole  amount  of  the  claims,  will  leave 
still  due  and  payable  between  fourteen  and  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 
A  list  of  these  amounts  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  military  when 
the  Indians  were  turned  over  to  them,  to  be  collected  or  otherwise  dis- 
posed of  as  to  them  may  seem  best. 

In  reference  to  the  late  treaty,  I  deem  it  proper,  in  justice  to  myself, 
to  say,  that  I  have  been  from  the  time  of  its  execution  decidedly  in 
favor  of  its  prompt  and  rigid  enforcement,  and  I  regard  it  as  greatly 
to  be  regretted  that  the  military  did  not  take  the  same  view  of  the 
question. 

We  have,  during  the  last  twelve  years,  made  six  treaties  with  the 
Navajoes,  not  one  of  which  seems  to  have  been  thought  of,  either  by 
the  Indians  or  ourselves,  after  they  were  signed  and  agreed  to.  This 
farce  has  been  so  often  enacted  that  the  Indians  have  really  learned  to 
believe  that  the  signing  of  a  treaty  places  them  under  no  obligations. 
The  conditions  of  the  late  treaty  were  fully  and  carefully  explained 
to  the  Indians  then  present,  and  after  being  clearly  understood  by 
them,  they  agreed  to  pay  for  all  the  property  stolen  by  their  people 
between  the  15th  of  August  and  the  25th  of  December  of  the  year 
1858;  and  if  the  property  so  stolen  was  not  returned  or  paid  for,  they 
agreed  that  the  troops  should  have  the  right  to  make  reprisals  from 
the  flocks  and  herds  at  large  of  the  tribe  to  the  full  extent  of  the 
property  lost. 

In  addition  to  this,  they  agreed  as  a  security  against  future  depre- 
dations, that  all  property  stolen  by  them  after  signing  and  executing 
the  treaty  on  the  25th  of  December,  should  in  like  manner  be  paid 
for,  if  not  returned  ;  and  in  default,  the  troops  were  authorized  to  make 
reprisals  to  indemnify  the  sufferers. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES    IN   NEW   MEXICO.  59 

These  were  the  strong  points  in  the  treaty  upon  which  I  relied  to 
produce  an  effect  upon  the  Indians,  as  well  as  to  do  justice  to  the 
citizens  for  the  losses  sustained  by  them.  Now  my  belief  is,  that  if 
those  conditions  had  been  firmly  and  timely  enforced,  it  would  not 
have  produced  a  war,  but  would  have  had  the  effect  to  prevent  the 
robberies  that  have  been  committed  during  the  summer  arid  fall,  and 
would  at  the  same  time  held  in  check  the  outburst  of  feeling  that 
now  exists  among  the  people  in  all  parts  of  the  Territory  on  the  sub- 
ject of  a  want  of  protection,  that  is  venting  itself  in  the  organization 
of  guerilla  parties,  to  invade  the  Navajoe  country,  that  must  force  us 
into  another  war  with  that  tribe,  ending  in  heavy  expenses  to  the 
government,  and  may  destroy  the  means  that  the  Indians  now  have 
to  live  upon,  and  thus  entail  the  mupon  us,  a  set  of  marauders,  for 
years  to  come. 

I  doubt  the  propriety  of  these  independent  expeditions  against  the 
Navajoes,  and  yet  I  cannot  blame  the  citizens,  for  it  seems  the  only 
remedy  to  save  the  frontier  from  utter  desolation. 

As  further  evidence  of  my  views  in  reference  to  this  question  with 
the  Navajoes,  I  beg  leave  to   submit  the  enclosed  extract  from  my 
annual  report  for  the  year  just  ended,  written  in  September  last. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  * 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs.  Neio  Mexico 

His  Excellency  A.  KENCHER, 

Governor,  New  Mexico 


25.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  S.UPERINTENDENCY, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico;  February  5,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  very  much  fear  that  my  communications  this  week  will  be 
so  voluminous  that  you  will  be  deterred  from  reading  them.  I  hope, 
however,  their  importance  will  be  considered  a  sufficient  excuse  for 
my  thus  troubling  you. 

The  enclosed  letters  from  Agent  Kendrick  came  to  hand  last  evening, 
and  I  deemed  it  proper  to  place  them  at  once  before  you. 

I  have  written  to  Agent  Kendrick  to  leave  the  post,  and  to  return 
to  Santa  Fe. 

Mr.  Russel  arrived  here  last  evening  from  the  States,  and  will  be 
assigned  to  duty,  as  you  directed,  at  Fort  Defiance  ;  but  I  will  not 
send  him  up  until  some  change  is  made  in  the  command  at  Defiance, 
especially  since  there  seems  to  be  but  little  necessity  for  an  agent 
there  for  the  present. 

I  do  suppose  a  more  contemptible  fellow  than  Major  Shepherd  has 
never  disgraced  the  ar.my,  and  certainly  none  could  be  less  qualified 
to  be  placed  in  command  of  a  post  so  important  as  that  of  Defiance. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Sup't  Indian  Affairs,  Neiv  'Mexico. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Com.  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  city. 


60  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

25  a. 

FORT  DEFIANCE, 
flew  Mexico,  Navajoe  Agency,  January  20, 1860. 

SIR:  I  have  just  received  your  note  of  to-day,  informing  me  that 
war  DOW  existed  with  the  Navajoe  Indians,  and  that  I  am  prohibited 
from  holding  within  this  garrison  any  intercourse  with  this  tribe,  and 
that  for  the  first  violation  of  this  order  I  must  be  prepared  to  leave 
the  post. 

It  seems  that  a  change  has  taken  place  in  your  mind  since  this 
morning.  I  asked  you  to  let  me  talk  to  the  Indians  in  your  presence, 
and  you  refused.  1  give  you  notice  now,  as  I  told  you  to-day,  that  I 
will  talk  to  them  when  I  please  outside  of  the  post. 

If  your  note  is  intended  as  a  threat,  I  pass  it  by  unnoticed,  as  the 
ox  would  the  passing  fly  that  should  perchance  light  upon  his  nose. 
1  will  discharge  my  duty  as  agent,  regardless  of  consequences. 

I  will  now  notify  you  that  your  conduct  in  reference  to  the  Indians 
(the  Navajoes)  that  you  invited  into  the  post  this  morning,  and  other 
circumstances,  shall  bring  you,  officially,  before  the  proper  tribunal 
for  adjustment. 

Feeling  this  to  be  my  duty  as  Indian   agent,  I  am,  respectfully, 

SILAS  F.  KENDRICK, 

Indian  Agent. 

Major  0.  L.  SHEPHERD, 

Commanding  Fort  Defiance. 


25  b. 

FOBT  DEFIANCE, 
N.  M.,  Ind.  Agency,  January  23, 1860. 

SIR:  The  quartermaster's  mail  left  here  on  the  18th  instant,  but, 
from  some  cause  unknown  to  me,  I  was  not  notified  until  it  was  gone. 
I  therefore  had  no  time  to  write.  I  will  not  attempt  in  this  to  give 
you  all  the  particulars  of  what  has  occurred  here  for  the  last  two 
weeks,  but  will  try  to  embody  them  in  a  report  which  I  design  to 
make  when  I  reach  Santa  Fe. 

On  the  15th  instant  Juanico  (Indian  chief)  came  into  the  post  after 
sundown,  and  informed  me  that  a  party  of  Navajoes  had  gone  down  to 
the  cattle  herd  at  the  Hermocellio,  nine  miles  from  trie  post.  I  imme- 
diately informed  Major  Shepherd  of  it,  whereupon  he  sent  down  a 
reinforcement. 

Next  morning  anothe-  chief  came  in,  and  informed  me  that  Hirsro 
Miles  (another  chief)  had  headed  the  party  that  attacked  the  herders, 
and  that  he,  the  chief  then  present,  wanted  protection  for  himself  and 
family.  I  told  him  that  it  would  be  well  for  him  and  Garvatha 
Muncho  to  move  their  flocks  to  Lagua  Negro,  and  from  there  they 
could  let  me  know  the  movements  of  the  Indians,  and  I  would  not 
let  them  be  molested. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  an  Indian  came  to  the  block-house  on 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  Gl 

the  "hill  above  the  fort,  and  called  my  interpreter,  and  told  him  that 
he  wanted  to  see  the  agent.  I  went  up  with  Lieut.  Whipple,  and  the 
Indian  informed  us  that  the  Navajoes  had  that  morning  attacked  the 
cattle  herd  and  killed  three  soldiers.  While  we  were  with  the  Indian 
a  dog  came  in  with  a  note  tied  around  his  neck  which  confirmed  the  state- 
ment of  the  Indian. 

Major  Shepherd  ordered  out  some  seventy-five  men,  with  four  days' 
rations.  Just  as  they  were  starting  from  the  post,  a  runner  came  in 
and  informed  the  major  that  the  wood  party  on  the  side  of  the 
mountain  had  been  attacked  by  the  Indians  and  one  man  killed. 
Major  Shepherd  took  some  fifty  men  and  went  to  the  rescue  of  the 
wood  party,  ordering  Lieut.  Shipley,  with  twenty-five  men,  to  the 
relief  of  the  cattle  herders.  I  accompanied  the  lieutenant.  We 
arrived  on  the  ground  about  3  o'clock,  and  found  the  statement  true. 
The  attack  was  made  about  8  o'clock.  The  Indians  made  three 
charges,  and  came  up  to  within  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  yards 
of  the  troops.  The  three  men  that  were  killed  had  some  one  hundred 
and  thirty  arrows  shot  into  them. 

I  examined  closely  the  place  where  the  Indians  were  concealed,  and 
from  the  tracks  I  supposed  there  were  some  fifty  Indians,  but  the  men 
think  there  were  more.  We  remained  there  until  Major  Shepherd 
came  up,  when  we  returned  to  the  post. 

Agreeably  to  the  statement  of  the  officers,  the  affair  at  both  places 
was  conducted  badly  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers.  I  will  give  the 
particulars  in  my  report. 

The  Navajoes  captured  six  oxen,  sixteen  mules,  axes,  chains,  &c. 
On  the  20th,  a  chief  came  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  near  the  post, 
and  Major  Shepherd  invited  him  to  come  down  to  the  post,  assuring 
him  that  he  should  not  be  molested.  Accordingly,  he  came  down 
near  my  office. 

Major  Shepherd  asked  him  what  he  came  for.  He  said  he  came  to 
see  the  agent.  I  asked  the  major  to  let  him  tell  me  what  he  came 
for,  but  he  refused,  stating  that  he,  the  Indian,  could  talk  to  no  one 
but  himself. 

I  told  the  Major  that  he  could  hear  all  that  was  said,  but  he  refused, 
in  a  very  haughty  manner,  asserting,  in  his  own  peculiar  language, 
that  he  was  the  commander  of  the  post,  and  then  turned  to  the  Indian 
and  told  him  that  he  must  go  and  bring  Husro  Miles,  and  ordered,  at 
the  same  time,  the  guard  to  fire  on  the  Indian,  which  they  did. 

JV^ajor  Shepherd  wrote  me  a  very  insulting  note  the  same  day,  stat- 
ing that  if  I  had  any  communications  with  the  Indians  without  first 
asking  him,  that  I  must  prepare  to  leave  the  post ;  to  which  I  replied, 
perhaps,  in  rather  uncouth  language,  but  under  the  circumstances  I 
ieel  that  I  was  justified. 

Since  I  have  been  at  this  post  I  have  endeavored  to  carry  out  your 
instructions  to  cultivate  friendly  relations  with  the  military,  but  from 
some  cause  I  know  not,  there  seems  to  be  a  feeling  of  hostility  with 
the  officers  here  against  the  Indian  department,  which  I  have  not 
been  able  to  overcome.  I  have  endeavored  to  pursue  a  straight- for  ward 
course  in  the  discharge  of  my  duty,  never  interfering  in  any  manner 
with  the  military,  knowing  it  to  be  the  interest  of  the  service  for  both 


62  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES    IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

departments  to  co-operate  with  each  other.  In  all  my  councils  where 
I  had  to  meet  the  Indians  away  from  the  post,  I  have  never  asked  for 
an  escort,  on  account  of  the  feelings  to  which  I  have  referred.  Injus- 
tice to  Major  Simonson  I  must  state  that  while  he  was  in  command 
of  the  post,  he  seemed  ever  ready  to  co-operate  with  me,  and  told  me 
that  I  could  have  an  escort  at  any  time  to  visit  the  Indians, 

But  as  soon  as  Major  Shepherd  assumed  the  command,  he  commenced 
his  arbitrary  course  with  the  Navajoes,  whipping  them  and  every 
way  ill-treating  them,  which  I  found  myself  unahle  to  prevent. 

On  yesterday,  the  22d,  as  the  government  train  was  coming  up  to 
the  fort  loaded  with  flour,  about  18  miles  from  the  fort  the  Indians 
fired  into  the  train  ;  there  were  about  30  Indians,  and  they  kept  up  a 
fire  for  some  10  miles,  but  fortunately  only  wounded  one  man. 

I  forgot  to  mention  that  when  Major  Shepherd  arrived  at  the  place 
where  the  wood  party  was  attacked,  which  he  did  in  some  30  or  40 
minutes  after  the  Indians  had  killed  the  soldier,  whom  he  found  still 
writhing  in  his  blood,  failed  to  follow  the  Indians. 

Now,  colonel,  as  things  stand  here  at  this  time,  I  cannot  see  that 
there  is  much  use  for  an  agent.  I  wish  to  come  to  Santa  Fe. 

We  will  have  no  mail  for  12  days.  This  will  be  carried  down  by 
private  conveyance. 

Kespectfully 

SILAS  K.  HENDRICK, 

Indian  Agent. 

J.  L.  COLLINS,  Esq. 

Supt.  Indian  Affairs,  Neiv  Mexico. 


26.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greemoood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENT, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  February  10,  1860. 

SIR  :  We  are  now  almost  daily  in  receipt  of  the  news  of  robberies 
being  committed  by  the  Navajoes,  and  in  these  forays  many  Mexicans 
are  killed.  I  am  not  advised  as  to  what  are  to  be  the  movements  of 
Col.  Fauntleroy.  He  has  under  his  command  twenty-two  companies 
of  infantry  and  mounted  troops,  a  force,  it  seems  to  me,  quite  suffi- 
cient to  chastise  the  Navajoes.  It  is  rumored,  however,  that  he  has 
asked  for  authority  to  call  upon  the  executive  of  this  territory  for  one 
thousand  volunteers,  and  that  he  will  not  move  against  the  Nava- 
joes until  that  force  is  organized,  provided  it  is  allowed  him.  This 
delay  will  doubtless  prove  fatal  to  our  frontier  settlers. 

I  fear  Fauntleroy  is  influenced,  in  making  this  call  for  volunteers, 
by  a  party  of  men,  some  of  whom  are  well  known  to  you,  who  have 
been  engaged  in  speculating  in  land  warrants.  These  men  have  been 
constantly  courting  his  favor.  I  cannot  say  for  this  object,  but  at 
any  rate  he  is  now  impressed  with  the  belief  that  a  volunteer  force  is 
necessary  to  the  success  of  a  campaign  against  the  Navajoes,  a  conclu- 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  G3 

sion  not  a  little  strange  when  we  consider  the  number  of  troops  at  the 
command  of  Col.  Fauntleroy. 

I  understand  further  that  the  colonel  has  asked  to  be  allowed  to  use 
400  Utahsin  this  intended  campaign  I  do  not  know  to  whom  he  has 
directed  this  application,  but  suppose  it  will  not  be  granted  without 
consulting  you. 

I  mentioned  in  a  former  letter  to  you  that  he  had  stated  to  me  that 
he  wanted  an  auxiliary  force  of  Utahs  to  aid  him  against  the  Nava- 
joes,  and  I  asked  to  be  instructed  definitely  on  the  subject.  As  I  stated 
then  I  think  it  not  only  improper  but  injudicious  to  use  one  tribe 
against  another  in  this  way. 

There  is  certainly  no  necessity  for  such  help.  Our  own  troops  are 
sufficient  to  chastise  any  tribe  of  Indians  in  this  territory  ;  and  if  they 
are  not  sufficient,  help  should  be  asked  from  the  Mexicans  rather  than 
from  other  tribes  of  Indians  at  peace  with  us.  One  thing  I  fear  is, 
that  this  war  is  to  deprive  the  Navajoes  of  the  means  they  now  have  to 
support  themselves,  and  thus  make  them  a  charge  upon  the  govern- 
ment, if  not  a  band  of  marauders  more  troublesome  than  they  are 
now.  We  are  here  pretty  much  in  the  same  condition  that  the  inhab- 
itants of  Territories  generally  are,  at  issue  with  each  other.  It  has 
been  my  purpose  to  co  operate  with  all  the  other  branches  of  the  gov- 
ernment, but  especially  with  the  military,  with  whom  and  myself  the 
public  service  demands  a  co-operation,  but  I  fear  I  will  have  to  give 
up  all  hopes  of  doing  so. 

I  will  keep  you  advised  as  to  our  doings,  &c. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 
Supt.  Indian  Affairs  New  Mexico. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  city. 


2V.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENCE 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  February  12,  1860. 

SIR  :  Since  I  wrote  you  a  day  or  two  ago,  a  heavy  robbery  is  re- 
ported to  have  been  committed  by  the  Navajoes  in  the  valley  of  the 
Kio  Grande,  below  this. 

60,000  sheep,  400  head  of  cattle,  and  some  horses  are  reported  to 
have  been  taken.  The  troops  from  Fort  Craig,  with  a  number  of 
citizens,  were  in  pursuit  of  the  robbers,  but  the  chances  are  that  they 
will  not  overtake  them.  The  robbery  is  undoubtedly  a  heavy  one, 
but  it  may  not  reach  the  above  figures;  some  allowance  must  be  made 
for  exageratiou. 

No  movement  is  made  by  our  new  commandant  to  give  protection 
to  the  frontier,  notwithstanding  he  has  at  his  command  some  1,800 
men.  Without  volunteers,  it  seems  nothing  can  be  done.  The  colonel, 
I  understand,  busied  himself  in  discussing  the  propriety  and  necessity 
of  having  a  portion  of  the  civil  officers  of  our  Territory  removed;  they 


64  INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO. 

seem  to  be  in  the  way  of  the  successful  termination  of  his  mission  to 
the  Territory. 

My  cause  of  offence  to  the  colonel  is  all  before  you. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  COLLINS, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Neiv  Mexico 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Com.  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  city. 


28.  Mr.  Collins  to  Mr.  Greenwood. 

INDIAN  SUPERINTENDENCY, 
Santa  Fe,  Neio  Mexico,  February  19,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  believe  I  mentioned  in  a  former  letter  the  report  of  a  heavy 
robbery  of  sheep  and  cattle,  committed  by  the  Navajoes  in  the  valley 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  about  the  1st  of  this  month.  This  morning  I  met 
Captain  Chavis,  who  headed  the  party  of  Mexicans  who,  in  company 
with  the  troops  from  Fort  Craig,  went  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians. 
From  Chavis's  statement  I  learn  that  the  sheep  taken — supposed  to 
be  about  30,000 — were  grazing  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rio  Grande,  in 
various  flocks  or  herds. 

The  Indians  collected  them,  and  run  them  down  the  river  some  dis- 
tance and  crossed  to  the  west  side.  In  crossing,  some  two  or  three 
thousand  sheep  were  drowned.  The  detention  in  crossing  the  sheep 
over  the  river  enabled  the  Mexicans  under  Chavis  to  report  at  Fort 
Craig,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  troops  at  that  post.  Thus  re- 
inforced, the  party  started  in  pursuit,  and  after  a  hard  chase  the  In- 
dians were  overhauled,  and  17,000  sheep  retaken  ;  about  100  head  of 
cattle  were  also  recovered,  and  28  Indians  killed.  This  is  the  most 
successful  pursuit  after  Indians  that  has  been  made  in  ten  years. 

Captain  Chavis  speaks  in  the  highest  commendation  of  Colonel 
Porter,  Captain  McLean,  and  Captain  Hatch,  of  the  rifles,  who  took 
part  in  the  fight,  and  assisted  in  the  recapture  of  the  stock.  The 
whole  command  behaved  most  gallantly,  but  especially  was  this  so  in 
reference  to  Captain  McLane.  Every  horse  belonging  to  the  Mexican 
party  was  killed,  leaving  them  entirely  afoot.  They  lost  two  men 
killed  and  several  wounded.  Several  soldiers  were  wounded. 

This  affair  deserves  the  notice  of  the  government;  for  it  is  not  only 
creditable  to  those  concerned  in  it,  but  it  will  have  the  effect  to  check 
the  Indians  in  the  commission  of  these  robberies  until  a  campaign  can 
be  put  on  foot  against  them. 

Captain  Chavis  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  brave  and  successful 
Indian  fighters  in  the  Territory.  He  never  fails  to  do  good  service 
when  he  goes  out. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J    L.  COLLINS, 
Sup't  Indian  Affairs,  New  Mexico. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Com.  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  city. 


INDIAN   HOSTILITIES   IN   NEW   MEXICO.  65 

29.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  2,  1860, 

SIR:  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  January 
29  last,  informing  me  of  a  series  of  attacks  made  by  the  Navajoe  In- 
dians on  soldiers  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Defiance,  during  which  four 
men  were  killed,  another  wounded,  and  a  number  of  oxen  and  mules 
driven  off,  and  in  relation  thereto  I  have  to  inform  you  that  the  same 
was  referred  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  for  his  information. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  L.  COLLINS,  Esq., 

Sup't,  &c.,  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 


30.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Thompson. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  23,  1860. 

SIR  :  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  5th 
ultimo,  enclosing  copies  of  letters  from  Agent  Kendrick,  relative  to 
his  treatment  by  Major  Shepherd,  commanding  the  post  at  Fort  De- 
fiance, and  the  attack  of  the  Indians  on  the  troops,  &c.,  and  in  answer 
have  to  state  that  the  same  has  been  referred  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  for  his  information,  read,  and  returned  to  this  office. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  L.  COLLINS,  Esq., 

Sup't  Indian  Affairs,  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 


31.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Collins. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  26,  1860. 

SIR  :  Your  letter  of  the  4th  ultimo,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  joint 
resolution  of  the  legislature  of  New  Mexico,  calling  upon  the  governor 
of  said  Territory  ior  certain  information  relative  to  a  treaty  of  peace 
alleged  to  have  been  made  with  the  Navajoe  Indians,  etc.,  referred  by 
him  to  you,  together  with  your  answer,  <fec.,  has  been  received,  and  I 
have  now  to  inform  you  that  the  same  was  referred  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior  for  his  information,  read,  and  returned  to  this  office. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J  L.  COLLINS,  Esq., 

Sup't,  do.,  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
H.  Ex.  Doc.  69 5 


